German · Kaution / Nebenkosten
You ask what the service charges cover: what to say in German
You ask what is included in the additional charges.
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How it's done. Nebenkosten include heating (Heizung), water (Wasser), rubbish collection (Müllabfuhr), stair cleaning, caretaker (Hausmeister); electricity is usually arranged separately.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
YOU START
Was ist in den Nebenkosten enthalten?
Vahs eest een dayn NEH-bayn-kos-tayn aynt-KHAHL-tayn?
What is included in the additional charges?
Or say:Welche Kosten sind in den Nebenkosten?
VEL-kheh KOS-tayn zeent een dayn NEH-bayn-kos-tayn?
THEY SAY
Heizung, Wasser, Müllabfuhr und der Hausmeister.KHIGH-tsoong, VAH-suh, MYOO-luhp-foor oont dehr KHOWS-mighs-tuh.
Heating, water, rubbish collection and the caretaker.
They might also say:
Das sind Heizung, Wasser, Müll und Treppenhausreinigung.
Dahs zeent KHIGH-tsoong, VAH-suh, myool oont TREH-payn-khow-srigh-nee-goong.
That is heating, water, rubbish and stairwell cleaning.
2
YOU REPLY
Und der Strom?
Oont dehr shtrom?
And electricity?
THEY SAY
Den Strom schließen Sie selbst mit einem Anbieter ab.Dayn shtrom SHLEE-sayn zee zelpst meet IGH-nem AHN-bee-tuh ahp.
You arrange electricity yourself with a provider.
3
YOU FINISH
Alles klar, danke!
AH-les klahr, DAHN-keh!
Understood, thanks!
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “German for life in Germany”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
ist
eest
verb
is
Nebenkosten
NEH-bayn-kos-tayn
noun
additional costs (utilities)
enthalten
aynt-KHAHL-tayn
verb
included, contained
Heizung
KHIGH-tsoong
noun
heating
Wasser
VAH-suh
noun
water
Müllabfuhr
MYOO-luhp-foor
noun
rubbish collection
17 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh vee-dehr-KHOH-layn?
Can you repeat that, please?
Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen?
KYOH-nayn zee BEE-teh LAHNG-zuh-muh SHPREH-khayn?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Was bedeutet das?
Vahs beh-DOY-tet dahs?
What does this mean?
Similar situations
The service charge statement has arrived and you do not understand the extra paymentKaution / Nebenkosten · A2 in the app
→You ask how and when to pay the deposit for the flatKaution / Nebenkosten · A2 in the app
→You ask about the deposit for the flatKaution / Nebenkosten · A2 in the app
→The heating in the flat is not workingHausmeister / Reparatur · A2 in the app
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