What documents does a German agent need for an Immobilien-Exposé?
German property law (GEG, WoFlV) sets strict mandatory disclosure requirements for every Exposé. Missing or expired documents expose the agent to fines of up to €15,000 under GEG § 108.
Short answer
- A complete German Exposé must include: Energieausweis (GEG), floor plan (Grundriss), WoFlV-compliant area calculation, site plan (Lageplan), and a correct statement of the four GEG energy key figures.
- Publishing a listing without an Energieausweis violates GEG — fines up to €15,000. The Energieausweis must be shown unsolicited at viewings.
- The living area (Wohnfläche) must be calculated per the WoFlV — areas under sloped ceilings below 1m do not count, those between 1m and 2m count at 50%.
Legal requirements: GEG and WoFlV
The Gebäudeenergiegesetz (GEG) obliges agents since 2009 to state the essential Energieausweis data in every listing and Exposé: energy efficiency class (A+ to H), final energy demand or consumption, construction year of the heating system, and main energy source. The Energieausweis must be shown unsolicited at viewings. Living area is calculated per the WoFlV (Wohnflächenverordnung) — roof-slope areas below 1m do not count, those 1-2m count at 50%.
Complete document checklist for a legally compliant Exposé
Mandatory documents: current Energieausweis (no older than 10 years); scale or schematic floor plan (Grundriss); WoFlV-compliant area calculation; site plan / cadastral map (Flurkarte). Recommended additional documents: Grundbuchauszug (no older than 3 months) for liens; Teilungserklärung and WEG minutes (for condominiums); operating cost statement for last 2 years; tenancy agreement (for let properties); building permit and plans (for new builds).
Common errors and fine traps
The most common error: the Exposé is published without an Energieausweis or with an expired one. The fine under GEG § 108 can be up to €15,000. Another error: the living area is taken from old plans without WoFlV-compliant recalculation — older figures are often too large, leading to liability. Agents should always document area calculations and store them in the system.
How 4property.net helps
4property.net includes a structured document checklist per property — the agent sees at a glance which documents are still missing before the Exposé is released. The Energieausweis is stored with its expiry date; the system warns automatically 3 months before expiry. The Exposé generator takes GEG mandatory data directly from the property record, ensuring no listing is published without the legally required energy figures.