Change to the cable TV contract for some tenants
Due to a change in the law, fees for TV cable connections may no longer be billed as additional costs by us as the landlord from July 2024. This means that tenants must conclude their own cable TV contracts from this point onwards at the latest. This change does not occur for all HOWOGE tenants. If this concerns your apartment, you will receive a personal letter from us asking you to take out your own cable TV contract.
Frequently asked Questions:
Why were only some HOWOGE tenants contacted regarding their TV cable connection?
Due to a change in the law, fees for a cable TV connection may no longer be charged as additional costs from July 1, 2024. We have informed affected tenants directly about this change with a personal letter and asked them to conclude individual contracts with the provider responsible in the respective area. In most HOWOGE apartments, tenants already have a direct contract with the provider - cable TV. For these tenants, everything remains as it is! Therefore, the majority of HOWOGE tenants have not received a letter from HOWOGE.
Why do I need to change my TV reception settings?
The Bundestag amended the Telecommunications Act (TKG) on December 1, 2021. Among other things, it changes the rules for providing the TV cable connection in the apartment. If you as a tenant have received a letter from HOWOGE about this, the costs for your cable TV connection have so far been automatically billed with the utility bill. With the entry into force of the new law on July 1, 2024, this billing via the annual utility bill will no longer be permitted. This means that in the future you will have to conclude your own and direct cable TV contract (so-called individual user contract) with the operator responsible for you. You can find the operator responsible for the respective property in the display case of your house. In the 2024 utility bill, depending on the provider, only costs for the period January 1st to June 30th, 2024 or January 1st to May 31st, 2024 will be incurred and billed.
Tenants who have additional TV coverage are excluded from this. Since this only affects individual tenants in the buildings, there will be no notice about this. However, the provider and contact details will be listed in your letter.
What do you as an affected tenant have to do if you want to continue using the cable TV connection as usual?
You must actively sign your own cable TV contract with the provider responsible for the house in which you live. You will then be supplied directly by this provider and will pay the usage fees due from July 1st or June 1st (depending on the provider) to this provider. You can find out which provider is responsible for your house on the notice board at the entrance to your house.
Please note:
At PYUR,individual user contracts are already available and can be concluded.
Why does this change only affect some tenants and not all HOWOGE households?
This change only affects tenants who have previously paid for their TV connection through the additional operating costs or whose rent payment includes an item for "additional TV supply". They must now conclude their own contract for their cable TV by July 1st, 2024 or June 1st, 2024. All other tenants who have not yet been contacted already have a so-called individual user contract. If you have not received any letters from HOWOGE regarding cable TV, you do not need to do anything.
What about tenants who have a contract with the cable TV provider PYUR?
In addition to Telekom and Vodafone, PYUR, as a broadband cable provider, is also switching to individual usage contracts. However, this will take effect as of June 1, 2024. The affected tenants will of course be informed separately and in good time by HOWOGE.
What about tenants who have a contract with the cable TV provider Vodafone?
You want to continue using cable TV, but would like to choose a different provider than your current one. Is that possible?
Unfortunately, you can only choose your current cable TV provider. This is related to the rights to use the cable TV line in the house up to your own apartment. HOWOGE has concluded contracts with providers for this area for the respective properties. The line level from the house up to the respective apartment (network level 4) cannot and may not be used by another provider. You can find the provider responsible for your house on the notice board in your building.
When will the changeover take place?
The changeover will take place from July 1, 2024 (Vodafone) or June 1, 2024 (PYUR). If the respective tenant does not conclude an individual user contract with the provider by then, the cable TV supply will be switched off automatically.
Note:According to current knowledge, there will be a transition period of several weeks for providers, so that TV reception will not be switched off immediately on July 1, 2024.
What happens on changeover day?
The changeover will take place automatically after you have concluded an individual user contract with your responsible operator. You do not need to do anything else and you do not even need to be at home.
What happens if you don't sign a new cable TV contract?
It is recommended that you sign a cable TV contract as soon as possible. Otherwise, your cable TV connection will be shut down on July 1st or June 1st, 2024.
Note:According to current knowledge, there will be a transition period of several weeks for providers, so that TV reception will not be switched off immediately on July 1, 2024.
You don't currently use cable TV and don't want to in the future. What do you need to bear in mind?
There is nothing else to do. If you do not sign a cable TV contract, you will not receive cable TV.
Could it happen that this change results in the costs for the cable TV connection being billed twice?
No, your individual contract does not have to start until July 1, 2024 or June 1, 2024. Billing for operating costs or as additional TV coverage ends automatically on June 30, 2024 or May 31, 2024 (depending on the provider). This means that there is no double billing.
What happens after the changeover from July 1, 2024?
After the changeover, the costs for the TV cable fees will no longer be included in the additional operating costs or the item will be taken out of the rental payment - depending on the rental agreement. If you have concluded an individual user contract with the respective provider in good time, everything will remain technically as usual. You do not have to be at home on the day of the changeover. You do not need any new receivers and there is no need to search for channels or make any other changes to the settings or cabling. After booking an individual user contract, you will continue to receive your cable TV in the usual way from July 1, 2024.