My utility bill for 2025 just came in and the heating costs have nearly doubled compared to last year. The apartment is a 65 sqm old building unit in Munich. My landlord says it's because of rising energy prices and the oil heating system. Can I just refuse to pay it or do I have to pay?
A doubling is harsh, but basically legal - heating costs depend on actual energy prices, and those really skyrocketed in 2022/2023. You should check the statement carefully though: Do the consumption values (m³ of oil or whatever) match up, were they calculated correctly, and did your landlord follow the heating cost ordinance? If everything checks out, you have to pay - there's no goodwill clause just because it got expensive. If something seems off to you, you can contact a tenants' association or have the statement reviewed before you pay.
The most important thing: compare your heating cost statement with the monthly installments you paid - if the final amount is significantly higher, you're entitled to a detailed explanation from your landlord. You can't just ignore the statement, but you're allowed and should question it if it seems unrealistic to you.
Rising energy prices are indeed a legal reason for higher utility costs - that's completely normal. But here's the thing: your landlord has to be able to prove to you that the calculation is correct. Ask to see the detailed statement - how were the costs divided among the individual apartments, what are the heating costs per square meter, do the consumption figures check out? With oil heating, it can also happen that oil delivery rates fluctuate, which drives costs up. That's annoying, but it's legal.
If you have doubts about whether everything is correct, you can hire an accounting expert to review it (might cost 200-400 euros, but the landlord has to pay if the statement turns out to be wrong). Or contact the tenants' association in Munich - they review statements like this for free and can tell you if something's off. A doubling is pretty extreme, but without more detailed information about previous years' prices and your actual consumption, you can't say whether it's unlawful.
First, check your monthly advance payments and compare them to the total amount of the statement. For example, if you paid €150 in heating cost advances for 12 months (€1,800 total) and the statement now demands €3,500, that's a massive jump. In that case, you absolutely have the right to demand a detailed explanation from your landlord - don't just accept the bill. The Verbraucherzentrale Bayern has good templates you can use to request the itemized statement.
Here's the tricky part: lots of people think rising energy prices automatically justify doubling the cost - but that's not quite right. Your landlord can pass on the actual heating costs to you, yes. But it has to be plausible. An old building apartment with oil heating in Munich is actually expensive, and prices were crazy high in 2022/2023. That can explain why the bill differs significantly. However: check whether your landlord even calculated the statement correctly. Is there an itemized heating cost bill from the energy supplier? Is your living space area correct? Are the billing periods accurate?
If everything checks out and you really do have to pay, you can file an objection - it's free. Write a short note saying you're having the statement reviewed and will get back to them. In the worst case, the Verbraucherzentrale or a lawyer can help you out, but most landlords are happy to correct things if there are errors.
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