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Shock bill for pensioners: 77,000 euros instead of 54,000 for a heat pump!
A pensioner from Marbach (Ludwigsburg district) is fighting against a high additional payment for a heat pump. Legal dispute puts a strain on funding.
Shock bill for pensioners: 77,000 euros instead of 54,000 for a heat pump!
A legal dispute is currently causing excitement in the Ludwigsburg region, especially for Dietmar F. from Marbach. The pensioner is faced with a bill that could really upset him: 77,000 euros for a heat pump, instead of the contractually agreed 54,000 euros. A truly “heavy burden” for the senior, who had already taken out a loan of 110,000 euros to finance this costly installation together with a photovoltaic system. Dietmar F. wanted to replace the outdated gas heating system with the new heat pump and thus contribute to climate protection, but now the undertaking seems to be turning into a nightmare. As the Stuttgarter Nachrichten reports, he is in a legal dispute with the craftsman, who has declared additional services, However, no written additional offer or cost estimate was submitted.
Despite all the trouble, the state funding of 21,000 euros provided by the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) is blocked due to the legal dispute. This funding accounts for up to 35 percent of the application amount and is only paid out after a final invoice has been submitted. However, the pensioner is having great difficulty receiving this final settlement as the dispute has not yet been resolved.
Homeowners beware: funding opportunities for heat pumps
The use of heat pumps is becoming increasingly popular for good reason. In many cases they can reduce heating costs and contribute to the use of renewable energy. The Consumer Center for Energy Advice emphasizes that old heating systems should also be modernized in order to reduce energy consumption.
The federal government offers various funding programs to support the switch to heat pumps. The federal funding for efficient buildings (BEG) reimburses up to 30 percent of the installation costs, depending on certain requirements. The KfW also offers grants and supplementary loans that make purchase and installation more affordable.
Funding details in different cities
In Cologne, the funding rate is 25 percent of the investment costs for heat pumps, with a maximum subsidy of 5,000 euros. The prerequisite is that the building was built before 1979 and is primarily used for private purposes. Here is an overview of the funding in some cities:
| City | Funding rate | Maximum grant | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamburg | 50% of the investment costs | — | — |
| Munich | Up to 30% | €10,000 | Built before 1995 |
| Cologne | 25% | €5,000 | Built before 1979 |
| Stuttgart | 30% | €15,000 | Built before 1984 |
| Dusseldorf | 20% | €4,000 | Application required before the start of the measure |
In summary, despite the many advantages that heat pumps bring, there are also some hurdles to overcome, especially when it comes to special offers and government subsidies. As Dietmar F. also shows, it is important to think everything through carefully and to find out about all the conditions in good time. After all, no one wants to end up in a financial mess.