A new factsheet explains the rules and obligations that apply to blocks of flats with individual heating systems and individual stoves. It was produced by Zukunft Altbau, an information programme funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of the Environment. The basic rule is this: if an individual heating system fails, the building owner or condominium owners must decide whether heating will remain decentralised or become centralised in future. If decentralised heating is retained, a fossil-fuel individual heating system may be installed for a transitional period of five years. If a central heating system is chosen, the period is extended to a total of 13 years.
GEG determines the procedure
Germany has around 3.3 million blocks of flats with an average of seven residential units. Flats are frequently heated by individual gas heating systems rather than central heating. If one of several individual gas heating systems in a block of flats fails, the property owners or condominium owners’ association (WEG) must decide whether they wish to continue using decentralised heating or switch to central heating in future.
Fossil-fuel heating systems may continue to be installed until what is known as the GEG cut-off date. In this case, however, a consultation with experts is mandatory before installation. The consultation must draw attention to future price risks. It must also be ensured that the proportion of renewable energy in the fuel rises gradually from 2029. It must amount to 30 per cent in 2035 and finally 100 per cent in 2045.
By mid-2028 at the latest, the 65 per cent requirement will become binding for everyone when a heating system is replaced. The GEG cut-off date for municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants is 30 June 2026, while 30 June 2028 applies to municipalities with fewer than 100,000 residents.
Decision between decentralised and central heating
If an individual heating system or stove is renewed after this cut-off date, it may be replaced on a transitional basis by a fossil-fuel individual heating system or stove, or immediately by a system meeting the legally required 65 per cent renewable-energy share. If the building already has central heating, the flat can also be connected to it even if the central system is still fossil-fuelled. Replacing the heating system starts a five-year period in which the homeowners or WEG must decide whether they wish to continue using decentralised heating or use central heating in future. If this period expires without a decision, conversion to central heating becomes mandatory.
If decentralised heating is chosen, every system that fails after the five-year period has expired must be replaced by a heating system powered by at least 65 per cent renewable energy. If central heating is chosen, the homeowners or WEG have a further eight years after the initial five, meaning 13 years in total, to install it. Condominium owners whose heating system subsequently has to be replaced are then required to use the central heating system.
The factsheet can be downloaded or ordered free of charge at https://www.zukunftaltbau.de.