Find errors, get money back
Check your Nebenkostenabrechnung
Paying too much for Nebenkosten? Get your German utility bill checked by nebify. Free pre-check in English, then a full report with an English summary and a ready-to-send letter to your landlord — within 48 hours.
Sample report · English summary
Sep 2, 2026
1. Summary
We found 3 clear errors!
Your statement contains costs that can't be passed on to tenants, a wrong allocation key and unclear items.
Good news: you can claim the money back.
Your estimated savings with nebify
€317.84
Formal check
The statement arrived on time and is correctly structured.
Content check
Error 1: Roof maintenance (€176.76) — not covered by the rental contract, cannot be passed on
Error 2:Floor area recorded incorrectly — the allocation key doesn't match the rental contract (€56.88)
Sample report. Nebenkostenabrechnung and Betriebskostenabrechnung mean the same document — “Betriebskosten” is simply the legal term (§ 2 BetrKV).
We’re on your side
German paperwork can be confusing. We’ve got you.
Long German words, legal terms, strict deadlines — the Nebenkostenabrechnung puzzles almost everyone. We go through it with you and explain everything in plain English.
Your Nebenkostenabrechnung in 30 seconds
1. Every month
You pay rent + an advance
Part of your monthly payment is an advance (Vorauszahlung) for the building’s running costs.
2. Once a year
Your landlord adds up the real costs
- Heating
- Water
- Waste
- Caretaker
- Insurance
- Property tax
…and splits them between all tenants. That annual statement is the Nebenkostenabrechnung.
3. The result
You pay extra — or get money back
you payGuthaben
you get back
Real costs higher than your advances? You owe the difference. Lower? You get a refund.
Mistakes are common. You have 12 months to object — we check your statement for you.
Start free pre-checkHow it works
How does the check work?
From your statement to a finished report and objection letter — fast, simple and fully online.
1. Upload your statement
Upload your complete Nebenkostenabrechnung as a photo or PDF.
2. Free pre-check
See right away: suspicious items, whether your Nebenkosten are too high, and your estimated savings.
3. Get your report + letter
If there is money to save, our team prepares a detailed report with an English summary and a personalized objection letter — within 48 hours.
How much are you overpaying?
In a few minutes, our pre-check shows you suspicious items and your estimated savings — in English.
Start free pre-checkKey facts at a glance
- The free pre-check takes a few minutes and shows whether a full check is worth it.
- The full report costs a one-off €24.90 and is ready 48 hours after we have all documents — objection letter included.
- You get an English summary of the report; the letter to your landlord stays in German, with a translation.
- You have 12 months from receiving the statement to object (§ 556 (3) BGB).
By Phil & Johann, founders of nebify — Nebenkostenabrechnungen checked by people and software.
Last updated October 7, 2026
Explained in plain English
What is a Nebenkostenabrechnung?
Rent in Germany usually has two parts: the base rent (Kaltmiete) and a monthly advance payment for running costs. Once a year, your landlord adds up what the building actually cost to run — property tax, water, heating, waste collection, cleaning, insurance — and splits it between all tenants. That annual statement is the Nebenkostenabrechnung, in English often called a utility bill, service charge statement or statement of ancillary costs. Its legal name is Betriebskostenabrechnung — same document, same rules.
If your share is higher than your advance payments, you owe a back payment (Nachzahlung); if it is lower, you get a credit (Guthaben). Errors are common: according to the German Tenants' Association (Deutscher Mieterbund) and Mieterverein Düsseldorf, at least every second statement contains errors.
German terms you will see on your statement
- Nebenkostenabrechnung / Betriebskostenabrechnung
- The annual statement of running costs — “Betriebskosten” is the legal term (§ 556 BGB, Betriebskostenverordnung).
- Heizkostenabrechnung
- The heating and hot water bill, often prepared separately by a metering service company.
- Vorauszahlung
- Your monthly advance payment for running costs, paid with the rent.
- Nachzahlung / Guthaben
- The back payment you owe, or the credit you get back.
- Verteilerschlüssel (Umlageschlüssel)
- The key used to split costs between tenants: floor area, number of occupants or consumption.
- Einwendung / Widerspruch
- Your written objection to the statement.
- Belegeinsicht
- Your right to inspect the invoices behind the statement.
Heating bill Germany: the Heizkostenabrechnung
Heating often comes as a separate statement from the metering company and is usually the biggest item. Upload it too — we check consumption-based billing, estimated readings and the landlord's CO₂ share.
Made for expats
What you get in English — and what stays in German
You should understand every finding — and your landlord should get a letter they can't misread.
In English
- The free pre-check, from upload to first result.
- A summary of your report that explains every finding in plain English.
- A translation of your letter, so you know exactly what you are sending.
In German
- The letter to your landlord. Landlords and property managers (Hausverwaltung) work in German, and the legal terms have to be exact — so a German letter is the safer choice.
- The detailed report with all legal references — with your English summary on top.
You send the letter yourself, so you stay in control. The report tells you how to send it and how to respond to your landlord's reply.
From our practice
Real results, real numbers
Documented checks from our practice — published anonymously, with findings and legal basis. The full case write-ups are in German.
What we check
Is my Nachzahlung too high?
There is no legal cap — a back payment is the difference between your advance payments and your share of the actual costs. A large Nachzahlung often means advance payments were set too low, or that the statement contains errors. Every statement we check goes through the same two-step review, and every finding comes with its legal basis.
Formal check
Is the statement valid and due at all?
Formally complete
Deadline met
Items you can follow
Content check
Are the amounts and the split correct?
Only chargeable costs
Only costs agreed in your contract
The right allocation key
Heating billed by consumption
CO₂ cost split
Just an excerpt — in the report, our team goes through every single item of your statement.
Costs compared
What does it cost to have a Nebenkostenabrechnung checked?
From €0 to a lawyer's fee — depending on how much help you need.
| Option | Cost | Time | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check it yourself | Cost: €0 | Time: 1–3 hours | Your own assessment — errors in allocation keys and heating costs are easy to miss |
| nebify pre-check | Cost: €0 | Time: a few minutes | A first assessment in English: is a full check worth it? |
| nebify check | Cost: €24.90 one-off | Time: 48 hours after complete documents | Full report with legal references and English summary, objection letter with translation, money-back guarantee |
| nebify Pro Service | Cost: €44.90 one-off | Time: 48 hours for the report | Report plus personal support until your case is settled |
| Mieterverein | Cost: Membership fee, varies | Time: depends on appointment | Advice for members, often with a waiting period for new members |
| Tenancy lawyer | Cost: Initial consultation max. €190 plus VAT (§ 34 RVG), beyond that based on the amount in dispute | Time: depends on appointment | Legal advice on your case, and representation towards your landlord |
| Legal expenses insurance | Cost: Premium + any deductible | Time: depends on the insurer | Covers lawyer's fees if you have tenancy cover (Mietrechtsschutz) and no waiting period applies |
Whether a check pays off depends mainly on the size of your Nachzahlung and on the items. A single item charged wrongly — like management fees or repairs — often exceeds €24.90 by far.
Our prices
Can I check my Nebenkostenabrechnung for free?
Yes — the pre-check is free. You only decide how much support you need once there is real savings potential.
Step 1
Free pre-check
€0
A first assessment in minutes, no payment details.
Step 2 — choose your scope
Get your report
from €24.90
The nebify check (most popular) for €24.90, or the nebify Pro Service with personal support for €44.90.
How long does it take? The pre-check takes minutes, the report follows within 48 hours once we have all documents. If something is missing — e.g. the heating bill or your rental contract — we get in touch.
Secure payment with
Encrypted payment via Stripe
Have your statement checked now
Upload your statement online — our team checks every single item and tells you whether, and how much, you can claim back.
Upload your statementWhere to get it checked
Do I need a Mieterverein — or a lawyer?
All three have their place. Many tenants start with a quick online check and only go to a lawyer if the landlord won't back down.
Online check
Good fit if: You want to know quickly whether your statement has errors, plus a ready-made letter to your landlord.
- Fixed price, no subscription
- Result in 48 hours
- Pre-check and summary in English
No legal advice and no representation in court.
Mieterverein (tenants' association)
Good fit if: You are already a member, or you regularly have questions about your tenancy.
- Personal advice
- Help with many rental topics
Membership fee, often a waiting period for new members, appointments depend on the association.
Tenancy lawyer (Anwalt für Mietrecht)
Good fit if: Your landlord won't back down, a lot of money is at stake, or a court case is looming.
- Legal advice on your individual case
- Representation towards your landlord and in court
Fees under the German lawyers' fee act (RVG); without legal insurance you pay them yourself at first.
Deadline check
What are the deadlines?
Two 12-month deadlines apply (§ 556 (3) BGB): your landlord must deliver the statement within 12 months after the billing period ends — later, they generally can't demand a back payment. And you have 12 months after receiving it to object in writing.
Answer one or both questions — your result appears as soon as you enter a date.
Shown on the statement, e.g. December 31, 2025
The day it arrived in your mailbox or inbox
Both deadlines follow from § 556 (3) BGB. This calculation is for initial guidance only.
Check it yourself
How can I check my Nebenkostenabrechnung myself?
Seven steps to find the most common errors. Whatever you can't judge with confidence, we check for you.
- 1
Check the deadline and the period
It must reach you within 12 months after the billing period ends — otherwise a back payment is usually excluded.
- 2
Check the formal details
Total costs per item, allocation key, your share and your advance payments must be stated clearly.
- 3
Compare the items with your rental contract
Only costs listed in § 2 BetrKV and agreed in your contract may be passed on.
- 4
Check the allocation key and floor area
Are your floor area, occupants and the building's total area right? A wrong key affects every item.
- 5
Look at heating costs separately
50 to 70% must be split by consumption. Also check estimated readings and the CO₂ share.
- 6
Compare with last year
Big jumps don't prove an error, but they show you where to look more closely.
- 7
Request the invoices and object
You may inspect the invoices (Belegeinsicht). Object in writing within 12 months of receipt.
Did you know?
What can my landlord charge?
Only running costs listed in § 2 of the Betriebskostenverordnung (BetrKV) — and only if your rental contract says they are passed on to you.
Typically chargeable
- Property tax (Grundsteuer)
- Water supply and sewage
- Heating and hot water
- Waste collection and street cleaning
- Building cleaning and pest control
- Garden maintenance
- Caretaker (Hausmeister)
- Building and liability insurance
- Lift
- Chimney sweep
Never chargeable to you
- Management costs (Verwaltungskosten)
- Maintenance & repairs (Instandhaltung)
- Bank charges of the property management
- The landlord's legal or rent-loss insurance
- Costs of vacant flats (Leerstand)
- First-time landscaping of green areas
Yet these non-chargeable costs regularly show up in Nebenkosten and Betriebskosten statements.
Technology + people
Checked by people, not just software
As fast as software, as thorough as an expert: every finding is reviewed personally by our team.
Real people check
Our team double-checks every finding before you see it.
Tailored to you
Your objection letter is tailored to your statement and your landlord.
English summary, German letter
You understand every finding; your landlord gets a proper German letter.
Results in 48 hours
So you can respond to your landlord quickly.
What drives us
Nebenkosten should be fair
– for every tenant
Founders of nebify“Every tenant has the right to pay only what is actually correct. We make that accessible to everyone.”
About us (in German)FAQ
Nebenkostenabrechnung check — frequently asked questions
Everything important at a glance.
Language, cost & documents
Do I need to speak German?
What does it cost to check a Nebenkostenabrechnung?
Which documents do I need to upload?
Money back & trust
Can I really get money back?
What happens if no errors are found?
Do you contact my landlord for me?
How safe is my data?
Legal basics & deadlines
How long do I have to object to my Nebenkostenabrechnung?
How long does my landlord have to send the statement?
Check your Nebenkostenabrechnung now
You now know what matters — upload your statement and have it checked by our team within 48 hours.
Start free pre-check