Frequently Asked Questions from Tenants

We also rent out underground parking garages and parking spaces. If you are interested, please contact your housing management representative.

Housing assistance is a government subsidy for rent that helps low-income individuals cover their housing costs. Whether you are eligible for housing assistance and the amount you receive depend on the number of household members, your total income, and the amount of your rent.

There are two ways to apply for housing assistance: either online through the NRW Municipal Portal, or in person or by mail at the Leverkusen City Social Services Office.

If you have any complaints, you can either contact your housing management representative directly or email our Service Center at servicecenter@wgl-lev.de or by phone at 0214 384 43.

You can report claims quickly and easily—including photos—right from home using our Meine WGL-App or online via our repair form.
Alternatively, contact your assigned property management team directly or report the issue to our Service Center by email at servicecenter@wgl-lev.de or by phone at 0214 384 43.

If the damage involves smoke detectors or utility meters, please contact WGL Service GmbH at wglservice@wgl-lev.de.

You can report claims quickly and easily—including photos—right from home using our Meine WGL-App or online via our repair form.

Alternatively, contact your property management representative directly or report the issue to our Service Center via email at servicecenter@wgl-lev.de or by phone at 0214 384 43.

If you are interested in making accessibility modifications to your home, please contact your property management representative. They will determine whether the necessary technical modifications can be made to your apartment and whether the requirements are met.

If you lose your keys, please contact your property management or our Service Center immediately by email at servicecenter@wgl-lev.de or by phone at 0214 384 43. Outside of our business hours, emergencies will be forwarded to our emergency service.

When the lease agreement is signed, a cable service agreement is also entered into. After the agreement is signed, the cable service agreement may be terminated in accordance with the terms and conditions.

The total monthly rent is due in advance, no later than the third business day of the month. There are several payment options available to you:

SEPA Direct Debit Authorization:
This is the most convenient option. The rent is automatically debited from your checking account at the beginning of each month. Any changes to the rent amount or the settlement of utility costs are automatically taken into account.

Recurring payment:
Alternatively, you can set up a recurring payment with your bank and transfer the rent yourself.

Payment by government agencies:
In exceptional cases, the rent may be transferred directly to us by the relevant agency. Please contact your case worker for more information.

It is not currently possible to sign a lease agreement digitally.

As specified in the lease agreement or the building rules, all tenants of a building are responsible for snow and ice removal.

In some buildings, the tenants have agreed among themselves on a schedule (e.g., one that follows the same order as the basement cleaning schedule or the trash collection schedule), since all residents are equally responsible.

If there is a shortage of de-icing material or snow shovels, tenants may purchase them themselves. WGL will reimburse the purchase price upon presentation of the receipt.

The legally mandated quiet hours in North Rhine-Westphalia are from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. In addition, we ask that you be considerate of your neighbors’ need for quiet during the day on Sundays and holidays as well.

Please avoid making loud noises and keep the volume at a reasonable level. Music, television, and conversations should be kept quiet enough so as not to disturb your neighbors.

Observing quiet hours is part of the house rules and helps foster a respectful living environment.

Tenants are responsible for cleaning the stairwells on a weekly basis. Ground-floor tenants clean the building entrance, the front steps, and the hallway on their floor. Tenants on the upper floors clean the stairs leading to their floor as well as their respective hallway—taking turns if there are multiple households on the floor. This also applies to buildings with arcades.

Stairs leading to the basement and attic, as well as the associated hallways, are cleaned on a rotating basis as agreed upon by the tenants. Common areas are also maintained on a rotating basis.

If the cleaning is not performed or is not performed in full, WGL may hire a cleaning company. The resulting costs will then be apportioned among all tenants through the operating expenses statement.

Yes, it is possible to hire a cleaning company to clean the stairwell. To do so, we must have written consent from the tenants. The resulting costs will then be allocated proportionally among all tenants of the building in the operating costs statement.

For larger properties, maintenance is handled by our in-house maintenance team. For smaller properties, maintenance must be carried out by all tenants. If tenants have rented an apartment with a garden, they take turns maintaining the common areas at their own expense.

If no owner-occupied garden is being rented out, WGL Service GmbH will handle the maintenance, and the cost will be included in the annual operating expenses statement.

Open fires and charcoal grills are not permitted for safety and fire prevention reasons. Barbecuing on the balcony, in the garden, or in the outdoor areas is therefore only permitted using an electric grill. Please be mindful not to cause smoke or odor nuisances for your neighbors.

A pool may only be installed on private, enclosed green spaces or in private gardens and requires prior approval from WGL. Please contact your assigned housing management representative for this matter.

The stairwell is an emergency exit and escape route. Items left in the stairwell—such as shoes, furniture, trash bags, plants, or toys—can block the way in an emergency and pose a fire and safety hazard.

For safety and fire prevention reasons, leaving items in the hallways is not permitted. Many buildings have designated storage areas for strollers and walkers. If such areas are not available, please contact your housing management representative so that we can work together to find a solution.

Prams and walkers may only be stored in the designated areas, such as the bicycle storage room, to keep emergency exits clear and prevent accidents.

If you are unable to find a secure parking spot, you have the option of renting a rollator or stroller storage unit, which will be placed in front of the building. Please contact your housing administration representative for more information.

No, we do not have a minimum lease term. The lease is open-ended and can be terminated by the tenant at any time with proper notice and in writing, in accordance with the terms of the lease.

The security deposit is equal to three months' rent (excluding utilities). At least one-third of this amount must be transferred to the account specified in the lease at the start of the tenancy.

The security deposit may be paid in three equal monthly installments, with the first installment due at the start of the lease.

No, we do not charge a commission when the contract is signed.

Yes, it is possible to remove a co-tenant from the lease if they move out of the shared apartment. Please let us know in a timely manner.

First, all relevant information is recorded on a so-called move-out form and signed by both parties. The property management team then documents the condition of the apartment as part of a technical interim inspection.

Once all relevant issues have been clarified, the WGL can proceed with the discharge.

Yes. Tenants are required to treat the apartment with care and respect. This includes regularly performing or having performed, at their own expense, any necessary cosmetic repairs resulting from normal wear and tear.

For information on how the remotely inspectable smoke alarms work, please refer to the user manual.

If you have any questions or need assistance regarding the wireless smoke alarms installed in your home, please contact our Service Center at 0214 384 43 or by email at wglservice@wgl-lev.de.

The smoke alarms are equipped with a battery that lasts at least 10 years and does not need to be replaced.

Please make sure to sort your trash properly and keep the trash area clean.

The gray bins are for general waste, and the blue ones are for paper. You can also find an information sheet on proper waste disposal in your lease folder and in our download section.

Please do not put the tightly sealed yellow bags out on the street until collection day. This is the only way we can work together to maintain a clean and pleasant living environment.

Please check the waste collection calendar on the AVEA GmbH website for the current collection dates.

There are several ways to lower operating costs. One key approach is to reduce heating and hot water usage. By ventilating properly (think “airing out” rooms) and keeping radiators clear, you can significantly reduce energy consumption. You can also save on water consumption, for example by taking shorter showers or using water-saving showerheads. Additionally, dripping faucets and faulty toilet flushes should be repaired. Whenever possible, you should only run dishwashers and washing machines when they are fully loaded and use the eco mode.

Utility and heating costs are billed once a year. The bill is sent out the following year. The billing period is the calendar year (January 1 through December 31); charges are prorated for residents moving in or out.

Delivery will take place no earlier than the middle of next year, as we first need to receive the billing data from external service providers and we manage a large number of apartments.

Operating costs are allocated in accordance with legal requirements and the building regulations. As a rule, charges are based on living area (square meters).

If the apartment has utility meters (e.g., for water), these costs will be billed based on actual usage.

Allocation based on living space has proven to be a practical, fair, and transparent process that all tenants can easily understand.

Yes, that is possible. If you are interested in paying in installments, please contact your assigned representative directly.

You can have your monthly advance payment adjusted. To do so, please contact your assigned case worker.

To access your statements from previous years, use our Meine WGL-App or contact our Service Center by email at servicecenter@wgl-lev.de or by phone at 0214 384 43.

Any credit resulting from the utility bill will be automatically applied to your next rent payment. If you have not provided us with a SEPA direct debit authorization, please provide us with your current bank account information so that we can transfer the credit to you as soon as possible. Cash payments are not possible.

The following costs, among others, are included in the maintenance fees: property tax, water supply, sewerage, garbage collection, street cleaning, building cleaning (if applicable), maintenance of outdoor areas, common area electricity, chimney sweeping, property and liability insurance, maintenance costs, heating costs, etc.

When you move into the apartment, you’ll need to set up certain contracts on your own, as these are not covered by the WGL. These include, in particular, electricity, internet, and phone contracts; you are free to choose your own provider.

In addition, every apartment must be registered with the relevant broadcasting fee authority (GEZ). While it is not mandatory to have personal liability and home contents insurance, it is recommended. Furthermore, you must register your new address with the Residents’ Registration Office within 14 days. You will receive the landlord’s confirmation required for this from WGL when you sign the lease.

Since operating costs are calculated on a pro-rata basis according to living space, a change in the number of people in the household generally does not affect the amount of the costs. Water costs are an exception, as they are typically based on consumption and may increase or decrease accordingly when the number of people changes.

You must obtain approval from WGL before installing a sunshade or privacy screen. To do so, please send a request to your designated property management representative, including details about the planned installation location, the mounting method, and the appearance of the screen.

Structural alterations, permanent installations, and the construction of a garden shed generally require prior written approval from WGL. Furthermore, a garden shed may only be built on green spaces or lawns designated for exclusive use.

To do so, please submit a request for a structural modification, including details about the planned location and the appearance of the garden shed, to the housing administration office responsible for your case.

Additional persons may be admitted as subtenants only with the prior consent of WGL. Such consent will be granted provided that there are no legitimate interests to the contrary and that neither harassment of other residents nor overcrowding or other disruptions to the apartment are to be expected.

If you would like to take in a subtenant, please send the completed application form to the housing administration office responsible for your case.

Yes. For renovations, additions, and fixtures, as well as installations that significantly alter the rental property, you must obtain prior approval from WGL. If you would like to make structural changes to your apartment, please submit a request for structural changes, including the essential details, to your designated property management office.

You may submit a written notice of termination by the third business day of a calendar month, effective at the end of the second calendar month following that month. WGL’s termination options are governed by statutory provisions.

The notice of termination must be in writing, signed by all parties to the contract or tenants, and sent to the housing management office responsible for your case. Please feel free to use our termination form.

Important!!! Notice of termination sent by email or fax is not valid.

Please return the apartment and all adjoining rooms completely vacated and swept clean when you move out.

If you have made any changes or taken over fixtures from the previous tenant, these must be removed and the property restored to its original condition when you move out—unless otherwise agreed.

To ensure that everything goes smoothly, please schedule an initial inspection with your property manager after you receive the cancellation confirmation.

In justified exceptional cases, the notice period may be shortened. Please check with your housing administration representative in advance to see if this is possible in your case.

You may suggest a prospective tenant. Please note that this does not guarantee that the person you suggest will be selected for the apartment. We will first check whether there are already other interested parties on the waiting list for the apartment.

Once the lease has ended and all keys have been returned, we will process the security deposit after a reasonable inspection period. If there is a credit balance, we will refund it to you.

If any defects are found when the apartment is returned, or if necessary repairs have not yet been completed, we will deduct the corresponding costs from the security deposit.

Once your cancellation has been confirmed, please schedule a pre-inspection appointment with your property management representative as soon as possible.

During this meeting, we will discuss which cosmetic repairs still need to be made before the lease ends and which changes you have made need to be reversed.

Please schedule an appointment to hand over the apartment well in advance of your move-out date. During this appointment, we will jointly document the condition of the apartment and the meter readings, and you will return all keys.

Yes, the new tenant may take over fixtures or furniture. A list should be kept of all items taken over. This list must be signed by both the previous tenant and the new tenant and forwarded to the appropriate housing administration office.