Heating costs in Germany

How it usually works

For many tenants, a year looks like this:

• •1. You make an advance payment each month, often together with your rent (Warmmiete: rent including running costs and heating).
• •2. After the billing year ends, the actual costs are calculated.
• •3. You get an annual bill.
• •4. The result: a credit (you paid too much in advance and get money back) or an extra payment due (the actual costs were higher, so you pay the rest).

Through your landlord or your own contract?

This is an important difference. If your building has central heating, you usually pay your landlord for heating through the Nebenkosten (running costs). If you have your own gas boiler in your flat, you often have your own contract with an energy supplier. You then make monthly advance payments directly to the supplier and get your annual bill from them. Check your rental agreement or bills to see which applies to you.

Heating costs in 2026: forecast / nationwide comparison

The Heizspiegel 2026 (heating cost comparison by co2online with Deutscher Mieterbund) calculated example costs for a 70-m² flat in an apartment building. For 2026, it expects these average costs:

What does this mean for gas?

The Heizspiegel expects slightly lower average gas costs for 2026. One reason is that the Gasspeicherumlage (gas storage levy) has been removed. But wholesale prices have recently risen. It often takes time for these prices to reach household contracts. No one can say exactly when or how much your own gas rate will change. These are nationwide comparison figures and forecasts. Your actual costs may be different.

Why oil and gas could cost even more

The price of natural gas and heating oil includes a CO₂ charge. This can make fossil fuels even more expensive. In 2026, this charge is between 55 and 65 € per tonne of CO₂. The German government wants to keep it at this level in 2027. The Bundestag is discussing the law, but it has not yet been passed (as of 4 October 2026). After a delay, the European emissions trading system for buildings and transport (ETS 2) is due to start in 2028.

How to cut your heating costs

You can take these steps in a rented flat too, without any building work:

• •Heat rooms to suit how you use them. Your bedroom can be cooler than your living room. On many thermostats, setting 3 is about 20 °C. Setting 5 won't warm the room faster. It will just make it hotter in the end.
• •Air rooms properly: Open windows fully for 5–10 minutes several times a day, rather than leaving them tilted open for hours. Turn the heating down while airing.
• •Keep radiators clear: Don't put furniture, long curtains or laundry in front of them or on top.
• •Bleed radiators: If a radiator gurgles or only gets partly warm, there is often air inside. If you're unsure or something is broken, tell your landlord or property manager rather than working on the system yourself.
• •Check windows and doors: Draughts let heat escape. Tell your landlord. Only make changes to the building with their permission.
• •Watch your hot water use: Hot water uses energy too. Shorter showers and a water-saving shower head help.
• •Don't let rooms get too cold: Saving money doesn't mean freezing. In very cold rooms, moisture can collect on walls and cause mould. Even rooms you rarely use should stay above about 16 °C.
• •Keep track of usage: If possible, read your meter regularly or compare your bill with last year's.

Check your monthly payment – don't just increase it

Your monthly payment should roughly match your usage and the current price.

• •Too low: You could face a large extra payment at the end.
• •Higher than needed: The supplier is holding some of your money that you might need right now.
• •Your own energy contract: Use your meter reading and contract price to check whether your monthly payment is right, and ask your supplier. Heating through your landlord: You pay advance payments for Nebenkosten (running costs) to your landlord. Any adjustment goes through them, usually after the annual bill.

Is your heating bill very high?

A high bill isn't automatically wrong. But take your time to check these points:

• •Is the correct flat listed?
• •Is the billing period correct?
• •Have all your advance payments been deducted?
• •Is the usage realistic, for example compared with last year?
• •How were the costs shared between the flats in your building?
• •Can you see how the energy costs were calculated?
• •Are repairs included? They shouldn't be.
• •For gas or oil: Has your landlord's share of the CO₂ costs been deducted?

You can check the documents behind your bill

You can ask your landlord to show you the invoices and documents behind the bill. You can usually object to a running costs bill within twelve months of receiving it. But this doesn't mean you can simply ignore the payment deadline on the bill. If there is a dispute, contact the Verbraucherzentrale (consumer advice centre), a Mieterverein (tenants' association) or a legal adviser. MeaNext can't decide whether your bill is legally correct.

Do you heat with oil, pellets or wood?

It's not only a heating bill that can matter. If you supply your home yourself with heating oil, pellets or other fuel and can't pay for a necessary purchase, the Jobcenter or Sozialamt can check this as well.

• •Apply before you order, and attach a quote or price proof.
• •Not every order is covered. The authority checks whether the amount and price are reasonable. Normal household electricity does not count as heating costs – unless you heat with electricity.

Act now

The sooner you act, the more options you have.

• •1. Don't ignore letters.
• •2. Contact your energy supplier straight away.
• •3. Check whether you can pay in instalments or get an Abwendungsvereinbarung (agreement to avoid disconnection).
• •4. If you're struggling financially, contact the Jobcenter, Sozialamt or a debt or consumer advice service.

Good to know

This page offers guidance, not legal advice. Prices and rules can change. For help with your own bill, contact the Verbraucherzentrale (consumer advice centre), a Mieterverein (tenants' association) or an advice service.