The television and radio license fee has been in effect since 1 January This fee covers all types of use, including listening to the radio in your car. The fee is paid once every three months. The fee is owed by the tenant of every apartment. A tenant is any adult person living in the apartment, nationality plays no role. To avoid problems of definition, each rent-paying adult person as well as all registered to the apartment are considered tenants.
If there are several tenants β as is the case in shared apartments German: WGs β they are considered jointly liable to pay the fee. This means that each and every tenant can be charged to pay the fee in full; it is then the responsibility of the shared tenants to compensate one another. This also means: The more tenants in a shared apartment liable to contribution there are, the smaller the partial sum that each individual must pay.
In terms of the TV and radio license fee, an apartment is any structurally enclosed living unit that is suitable. It depends on the situation: Single room apartments are considered apartments if they branch off a communally accessible hall regardless of whether they have an own bathroom or kitchen. Living groups or shared apartments or double apartments are generally considered one apartment.
The Hamburg Administrative Court has confirmed this interpretation in an initial decision that is however not yet legally binding. When all is said and done, it may come down to an individual decision. A tip: It is worth trying to register each floor as just one apartment. Rule of thumb: If living spaces in a student hall are designed in such a way that they resemble a private apartment or living space, each will be required to pay the fee in full!
The exemption also extends to spouses and registered partners; in the case of unmarried, cohabiting couples where one partner is exempted, the other partner will still be required to pay the fee. In rare cases of hardship, exemption status can also be applied for. You will need to file a written form. There is an online form available at www. No, the fee is paid per apartment and not per person.
