News item | 01-04-2026 | 11:17
The Service Costs Modernization Act will come into effect on January 1, 2027, together with the associated Decree and the Service Costs Regulations. The decision and regulations were published today. The new rules provide tenants and landlords with clarity about which costs landlords can pass on as service costs.
The Decree contains eight types of service costs. Landlords may only pass on these cost items to tenants as service costs. This defines what falls under service costs.
The Service Cost Regulations contain rules and principles for calculating service costs. These rules offer landlords and tenants, but also municipalities and other parties involved, clarity in determining a reasonable compensation.
New rules can also be applied voluntarily
The Decree and the Regulation will apply to rental contracts concluded on or after January 1, 2027. July 1, 2026 was previously communicated, but the new effective date offers more time for the careful introduction of the new system. Landlords may agree with their tenants to also apply the new rules to existing rental contracts from 1 January 2027. This allows landlords to avoid, for example, having to maintain different administrations for the settlement of service costs within one residential building at the same time.
More options for the Rent Assessment Committee
The new rules give the Rent Assessment Committee additional options when assessing service costs. For example, the Rental Committee can assess all costs from an advance payment for service costs. Smaller groups of tenants can also more easily submit a collective request together.
