Rental income (net cold rent)
Real estateRental income is the monthly net cold rent (Kaltmiete) your tenant pays you – excluding ancillary costs. It is the most important source of income from rented-out property.
Passive income:Rental income counts as passive income. It flows even without active work – a core building block of financial independence.
FIRE relevance:In FireLotse, rental income lowers the amount you need to withdraw from your portfolio. Because it flows without capital drawdown (the property is preserved), it directly reduces the FIRE number you need.
Tax & health insurance:Rental income is subject to income tax under §21 EStG at your personal tax rate – FireLotse does not calculate any tax on it. With voluntary statutory health insurance in the withdrawal phase, rental income also increases the contribution base. Plan for these deductions yourself if your rental income is higher.
Risks:FireLotse simplifies by treating the entered net cold rent as a constant inflow. In reality rents are not guaranteed: vacancies, rent defaults, repairs and tenant changes can interrupt the cash flow at times. Plan a buffer.