What Is the Rundfunkbeitrag?
The Rundfunkbeitrag, commonly still called GEZ (after the old collection agency, Gebuehreneinzugszentrale), is Germany's mandatory broadcasting fee. It funds public broadcasters ARD, ZDF, and Deutschlandfunk. Since 2013, the fee is charged per household (Wohnung), not per device. This means it does not matter how many TVs, radios, or smartphones you own -- or whether you own any at all. The fee is currently EUR 18.36 per month.
For expats: this is not a subscription you can cancel. It is a legal obligation for every household in Germany, similar to a tax. The only question in a WG is how to handle it practically.
One Fee Per Household -- The WG Rule
A WG counts as one household for broadcasting fee purposes. This means only one fee of EUR 18.36 per month is due for the entire apartment, regardless of how many people live there. This is actually a significant advantage of WG living: a three-person WG pays EUR 6.12 per person, compared to EUR 18.36 for someone living alone.
Who Registers?
One person in the WG must register the household with the Beitragsservice. In practice, this is usually the main tenant (Hauptmieter) whose name is on the lease. When you register your address at the local registration office (Buergeramt), the Beitragsservice is automatically notified and will send a registration form to the address.
Who Is Liable?
Legally, the registered person is liable for the full amount. If the WG does not pay, the Beitragsservice will pursue the registered person -- not the other flatmates. This is why it is important to have a clear internal agreement about splitting the fee and to actually collect it.
How to Split the GEZ in Your WG
The standard approach is an equal split: EUR 18.36 divided by the number of flatmates. For a three-person WG, that is EUR 6.12 per person per month. Include this in your monthly cost settlement or standing order arrangement.
Quarterly vs. Monthly Payment
The Beitragsservice bills quarterly (EUR 55.08 every three months) by default. You can also choose to pay monthly or semi-annually. Monthly payment aligns better with WG cost splitting, but quarterly is the default.
Handling Changes
When a flatmate moves out, the monthly per-person share changes. A three-person WG splitting EUR 18.36 three ways pays EUR 6.12 each. When one person leaves and is not immediately replaced, the remaining two pay EUR 9.18 each. Adjust your standing orders accordingly.
Exemptions and Reductions
Certain individuals can apply for an exemption (Befreiung) or reduction (Ermaessigung). Full exemption applies to recipients of: Buergergeld (citizen's benefit), Grundsicherung (basic income support), Asylbewerberleistungen (asylum seeker benefits), and BAFoeG (student financial aid, under certain conditions). A reduced fee of EUR 6.12 per month applies to people with certain disabilities (RF mark in the disability ID).
Important: in a WG, an exemption only applies if all residents are individually exempt. If one person is exempt but their flatmates are not, the household still owes the full fee. The exempt person's share would simply not be collected internally.
What Happens If You Do Not Pay?
The Beitragsservice sends reminders, then a formal notice (Festsetzungsbescheid) with a EUR 8 surcharge. If you still do not pay, the debt is enforced through the local enforcement authority (Vollstreckungsbehoerde), which can garnish wages or bank accounts. After 30 years, unpaid fees expire. Do not ignore the letters -- it only gets more expensive.
Conclusion
The broadcasting fee is a fixed cost that every WG in Germany must handle. At EUR 18.36 per month for the entire household, it is one of the smallest shared costs, but ignoring it creates outsized problems. Register one person, split equally, and include it in your monthly settlement. Our calculator includes GEZ in the Monthly Costs tab for easy tracking.