Agreement on the Building Energy Act: What will be important for Hamburg property owners

Planned amendment to the Building Energy Act with greater freedom for owners

With the agreement between the SPD, FDP and the Greens, the planned amendment to the law was recently toned down in some points so that owners of existing houses and flats can react more flexibly to the new obligations. In principle, at least 65% of newly installed heating systems should be powered by renewable energies. This includes solar thermal systems or heat pumps, for example, but pellet heating systems or direct electricity heating systems are also possible.

While this requirement is set to apply to new builds from 2024, existing properties will enjoy a transitional period that is expected to begin in 2028. This should allow owners more time to plan for the selection of a sustainable heating system; in addition, local authorities will be given the opportunity to present and implement their own heating plans so that district heating networks, for example, can also be converted to renewable energy. Gas heating systems may only be newly installed if they can be converted to hydrogen at a later date. Oil heating systems can also be used as a back-up to balance out peak loads in particularly cold temperatures.

In the Alster Valley and other parts of Hamburg, however, legal implementation of the new requirements could be expected at an earlier date, as the following section reveals.

Heat planning by the City of Hamburg allows for faster implementation of the Heating Act

As the amended Building Energy Act provides for the introduction of the retrofitting obligation in line with municipal heating planning, it could come into force much sooner in Hamburg than in other parts of the country. This is because the current Planning of the Hanseatic City of Hamburg is already so far advanced that it is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. The city has been keeping a heat register since 2016, which transparently shows which residential areas and streets are connected to district heating District heating can be connected to district heating. At which point an Expansion of the existing network should be prioritised is the last identification step before the final Hamburg heating plan can be presented. For owners, this would mean a Shortening the waiting period to the beginning of 2025. However, taking into account the planned exemptions and subsidies, this should not lead to an excessive burden for house and flat owners.

Numerous exemptions from the obligation to retrofit heating systems in houses and flats

Functioning heating systems in existing properties do not have to be retrofitted even after 2028 not be replaced. Only then, when a defective heating can no longer be repaired or for other reasons a system System change is considered, the new system must fulfil the sustainability criteria described above. Only in 2045 will heating systems no longer be allowed to run entirely on fossil fuels, meaning that the upcoming legislation is merely an interim step on the way to the desired heating transition Heat transition the desired heat transition.

In addition, exceptional situations have been defined in which owners of existing properties do not have to fulfil the conversion obligation - even if this would normally be the case. For example, owners of residential properties with up to six units are exempt from the aforementioned requirements if they have not reached the age of six 80. Year of age have reached the age of majority. In the event of a so-called heating breakdown - i.e. an irreparable heating failure - transitional periods of between 3 and 13 years apply, during which heating systems using fossil fuels may also be used as an interim solution. In addition, new Support measures from public funds; subsidies of between 30 and 50 per cent of the acquisition costs are currently being considered.

As a property agent in the north-east of Hamburg Engel & Völkers Alstertal always keeps an eye on current developments on the market for you: If you would like to buy a property with a modern heating system or sell your existing house or flat, our estate agents will provide you with the best conditions for a prompt and successful decision. We would be pleased to invite you to a free and non-binding consultation where we can answer your questions on the subject and work out the next steps in your project together. We look forward to your visit to one of our four property shops in Hamburg Marienthal, Volksdorf, Wellingsbüttel and Rahlstedt - to arrange an appointment, call us on +49-40-180 244 444 or fill in our online contact form!