CLAIMSTAKE · CHECKLISTE EINSEITER
Glossary (DE↔EN)
Glossary · Stand: 2026-08-10
PROTOMINDS
Bonn & Köln
The German terms of art from AfA to WEG, each explained in a sentence.
- AfA — building depreciation, deductible yearly. Standard 2%; RND appraisal can raise it.
- Anlage V — the rental-income section of the German tax return.
- Besitzübergang — economic transfer (rent/costs become yours) at payment, before Grundbuch entry.
- Erbbaurecht — ground lease. You'd own the flat but rent the land. We never buy these.
- Grunderwerbsteuer — one-off transfer tax; 6.5% in NRW.
- Hausgeld — monthly WEG fee. Part passes to tenant (umlagefähig), 20–30% doesn't.
- Kappungsgrenze — cap on rent raises in existing tenancies: +15% per 3 years here.
- Kaufpreisaufteilung — land/building price split; only the building share depreciates.
- Mietpreisbremse — re-letting cap at local reference rent +10%.
- Provisionsfrei — no buyer broker fee (~3.57% saved).
- Rücklage — WEG maintenance reserve. Low reserve + old building = Sonderumlage risk.
- Sonderumlage — one-off special assessment on owners when the reserve can't cover works.
- Vergleichsmiete — local reference rent (Mietspiegel) used for raises and the Bremse.
- Werbungskosten — deductible costs (interest, AfA, owner costs, materials…). Losses offset salary.
- WEG — the condo owners' association; its health is as important as the flat itself.