KFW55 House Funding Program 153/wrong values due to experts?

Good day,

I am normally not active on forums but still hope to find help here.

We are currently building a two-family house in Cologne. The construction project is being built according to the KfW guidelines for low-energy house standard 55. We purchased the house as a new build according to a specified building description. The building description explicitly states that it is a house built to KfW 55 standard. To achieve the planned energy level, a ventilation system and a heat pump are provided according to the building description.

We then financed part of the loan with lower interest rates through the KfW Bank via our house bank. For this, the architect of the developer company commissioned an expert who was supposed to create a KfW online confirmation for the bank. The architect was in contact with our bank advisor and for us the matter was initially settled.

After a month, we received information from our bank advisor that he had not yet received anything from the architect. We then informed our architect in writing immediately. He told us that he had passed on the order to the expert and that the expert had confirmed the order. Unfortunately, the expert is seriously ill and was unable to complete his service. The architect was not informed about this, which is why he now had to commission a "new" expert.

After about two weeks, we finally received the online application and immediately forwarded it to the bank. Due to the late submission of the documents, the interest rates unfortunately changed negatively for us. However, the increased costs for the higher interest rates are borne by the architect's insurance.

The actual problem is something else. The expert now commissioned also ticked under the heating section in the online application form the point

"Photovoltaic system for crediting according to §5 Energy Saving Ordinance / coverage share 5%"

Then the architect of the developer company told us that he now also owes us a photovoltaic system. Of course, at first we thought that was great..... a photovoltaic system at the same price!

After a few weeks, I asked the architect on site when the PV system would be installed and he just said that the PV system was probably no longer necessary because the expert had made a mistake in the values of the heat pump. He still has to clarify this. The external scaffolding has already been dismantled and the house is near completion.

So now we are currently quite confused and do not know what we should do. Wait and trust the architect? Write to the expert?

Can something like this actually happen, that the expert uses wrong values? I fear that the bank itself will send out an inspector (after completion) and demand the money back from us.

I hope someone can help us or give us tips on where to get assistance.

Thank you very much

Best regards

Benqow

Hello Benqow!

It's quite simple. Write to the architect and the expert (!) at the same time and ask for a written statement regarding the facts of the matter, whether the photovoltaic system is now required or not. Deadline 14 days. The letter should indicate that both have received the letter - then both must respond.

Regards!

.... I am normally not active on forums but still hope to find help here.

Why? Assistance from professionally untrained advisors without any expertise? What legally binding relevance would these have?

.... We bought the house as a new build according to a specified building description.

Bought or commissioned?

.... I fear that now the bank itself will send an inspector (after completion) and demand the money back from us.

Not entirely unfounded, since promotional loans are ultimately financed by taxpayers!

.... I hope someone can help us or give us tips on where to get help.

What help free of charge?

Best regards.

Good evening,

We are currently building a two-family house in Cologne. The construction project is being carried out according to the KfW guidelines for low-energy house standard 55. We purchased the house as a new build according to a fixed construction description. The construction description also explicitly states that it is a house built according to KFW 55 standard. To achieve the planned energy level, a ventilation system and a heat pump are provided according to the construction description.

With which brick? Filled or unfilled? Monolithic, double-shell ... ?

However, the increased costs for the higher interest rates are covered by the architect’s insurance.

Oral or written commitment?

But the real problem is another. The expert now commissioned has also checked the point

"Photovoltaic system for crediting according to §5 Energy Saving Ordinance / coverage share 5%"

under the heating section in the online application form.

After that, the architect of the developer company informed us that he now also owes us a photovoltaic system. At first, we of course found that great..... a photovoltaic system for the same price as well!

Sorry – but how can you find that "great"? All alarm bells should have been ringing

After a few weeks, I asked the architect on site when the PV system would be installed, and he just said that the PV system is probably no longer necessary because the expert made a mistake in the heat pump values. He still has to clarify that. The external scaffolding has now also been dismantled and the house is close to completion.

So now we are currently quite perplexed and don’t know what to do. Wait and trust the architect? Write to the expert?

The user "Dirk Grafe" gave the right indication and I wonder again why you haven’t done that long ago?

Is it even possible that the expert takes wrong values? I fear that now the bank itself will send an inspector (after completion) and demand the money from us again.

It is true that there are different routes to Rome. It is not uncommon that — with correct calculation — additional measures have to be taken. Hence my initial question about the exterior masonry used.

KfW 55 — built solidly — usually requires both a sub-sill insulation as well as a filled/thicker brick or double-shell masonry including appropriate insulation and technology. It also seems to me too "quick" and too "easy" that your architect’s insurance will cover the damage... this kind of commitments usually take quite a long time; at least if they are to be actually implemented in reality.

Rhenish regards

Hello

with us it was a similar case, but with Kfw70. The builder had to bite the bullet and also install a photovoltaic system on the roof to maintain the standard.

Well, there are some lawyers involved here. It would have been more important to me that the KfW standard is maintained because of the funding. If this can now be maintained without photovoltaics, then I see no grounds for a lawsuit.......... KfW 55 was promised and is being met. everything else is an additional service

Hello

we had a similar case, but with Kfw70. The builder had to bite the bullet and also install a photovoltaic system on the roof to maintain the standard.

Well, there are quite a few lawyers around here. For me, it was more important that the KfW standard was maintained because of the funding. If this can now be met without photovoltaic after all, then I see no grounds for a lawsuit.......... KfW 55 was promised and is being met. everything else is an additional service

There is a difference whether there is a photovoltaic system or not. The photovoltaic system will cause additional costs in 5-10 years at the latest (new inverter, etc.). A "better" masonry stone will not cost money in 10 years. The appearance is also quite different. For me, this would be a significant difference. Maybe the original poster wanted to install a new roof window on the south side in 5 years - then he can no longer do that. Such things must/should be discussed beforehand???