Settlement of the service costs

Get back the overpaid service costs from your landlord

Many landlords also ask for an advance for service costs, on top of the basic rent. Service costs are all the costs you pay for additional supplies and services. The most common service costs are gas, electricity, water, internet, TV, upholstery and furniture. Service costs are always intended as advance deposits. Every month you pay a certain amount to your landlord. At the end of each calendar year, your landlord should calculate how much you actually consumed and pay you back the difference. Your landlord should present this bill no later than six months after the end of the year, so no later than June 30th.

If it turns out that you have paid more service costs than you actually consumed, you are entitled to get money back. If you have never received anything back from your landlord, make an appointment with Frently to see if we can help you to reclaim any overpaid service costs.

An example

Mieke’s contract says that she has to pay € 70.- service costs and € 55.- ‘other costs’ every month. Each month Mieke pays a total of € 125.- for the services provided by her landlord. Mieke moved into her house on the 1st of July 2016 and shares her house with three roommates. Mieke has never received a final service costs bill from her landlord.

In 2016 the actual costs for gas, water, electricity and other services provided by the landlord were € 2000.-. In 2016 Mieke has paid 6 x € 125.00 = € 750.00. The total amount of € 2000.- should be divided among four tenants. Mieke has lived in the house only 6 out of 12 months. As a consequence, she has a right to get a refund of € 500.00.

If you have never received a service costs specification from your landlord Frently can help you reclaim the overpaid service costs for the years 2016, 2017 and 2018 (even if in the meantime you moved out of the house).

FYI: The average usage of gas, water, and electricity is € 60.- per month for rooms. If you are renting an apartment the average usage is € 100.- per month. If your advance is higher than the average usage, there is a very big chance that you have paid too much.

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