Germany mandates remote-reading heating meters by 2026

Under the amended Heating Costs Ordinance (HKVO), which implemented an EU energy efficiency directive into German law, all heating and hot water meters in multi-family residential buildings must be capable of remote reading by December 31, 2026.

This technical requirement affects millions of rental agreements across Germany. While the transition aims to modernize measurement, it carries financial implications for tenants, as landlords are often able to pass the costs of installing these new devices onto renters through service charge adjustments.

Landlords who fail to meet the 2026 deadline face potential legal disputes and financial losses due to tenants' rights to reduce payments. Furthermore, by the end of 2031, these remote-reading devices must be designed to be interoperable with various reading service providers.