Vonovia under fire: Tenants in Pieschen are demanding repayments!

Vonovia under fire: Tenants in Pieschen are demanding repayments!

In the midst of the current discussion about heating costs, which is causing headaches for many tenants in Dresden, the Left in Pieschen has launched an efficient information campaign. Loud Sächsische.de Particular attention is drawn to Vonovia's unlawful heating cost bills. The participants in the campaign are encouraged to be friendly and patient, said the initiator Michael Grunow. The measure is not aimed at acquiring electoral votes, but solely at helping affected tenants. They could get back up to 150 euros for incorrect billing.

But where does the tenants' discontent come from? Criticism against Vonovia is growing, especially due to the so-called “heating bill rip-off”, which has now been discussed by the party. As the MDR.de reports, the company has repeatedly confronted disappointed tenants with incorrect billing in recent years. Christoph Melzer, spokesman for Vonovia, emphasizes that the utility bills are drawn up in accordance with legal regulations. However, the legally required heat meters, which are necessary for accurate billing, are often missing.

Tenant rights and legal basis

An essential point that is often overlooked: Tenants have the right to correct billing of their heating costs. Experts of the Herfurtner law firm explain that heating cost billing is clearly regulated in German tenancy law. Billing must occur within one year of the billing period. In addition, at least 50 percent of the heating costs must be distributed based on consumption. This must be contractually regulated in every rental agreement in order to be legally correct.

The tenants also have the right to inspect, request access to the billing documents and file an objection within twelve months if they discover any discrepancies. The problem: Many people don't even know what rights they are entitled to. Paul Hübler from the Left criticizes this sharply and calls it worrying that many tenants have been left in the dark since 2014, while Vonovia is betting that no one will complain.

The initiatives of the left

To counteract this, the Left not only offers information material, but also actively organizes events in the district. Last summer, around 60 tenants in Dresden's Südvorstadt were informed about incorrectly billed heating costs. The feedback was consistently positive; many tenants were grateful for the support and the explanation of their rights.

Given these challenges, active citizen participation is more important than ever. An exchange between the tenants and an informative dialogue helps to gain more clarity about heating costs.

A stand in Pieschen can do more than just refund amounts. It's an opportunity to raise awareness of tenants' rights and strengthen the community. Because one thing is clear: if tenants stick together, they can achieve a lot!