The apartment at the place of work is registered as a secondary residence. There is already a broadcasting fee account for the main residence. That alone is not yet a confirmed exemption for the second apartment. Prepare the allocation and the application separately before you convert the registration status into an already completed fee procedure.
Consider person, apartment and payment together
The current information page of the Beitragsservice states an exemption on application for persons who can prove that they pay the fee for their main residence. It also names spouses and registered partners under the conditions given there. Other adult cohabitants are not automatically covered by the same decision. [Q-NW]
Our recommendation: For each affected apartment, compile the actually existing registration data and contribution documents. Who is recorded as the holder? Under which number is the apartment registered? Who makes the payment? A jointly used bank account alone does not resolve this allocation.
Use proof instead of mere self-assessment
The information page names as proof a registration certificate with main/secondary residence and the respective move-in date or a secondary residence tax assessment. The application must be submitted in writing; a telephone application is therefore not possible. [Q-NW] If the actual situation differs, ask for the appropriate proof instead of substituting someone else’s certificate.
This article does not reproduce original forms or an application template. It is intended to make the documents understandable. A saved draft in your work overview is not yet a demonstrated receipt of an application. Keep the actually submitted version and any receipt confirmation.
Have the start date examined concretely
The Beitragsservice generally describes the application month or, under its conditions, a retroactive effect of up to three months. For an application submitted later, the page states the application month, not automatically the earlier move-in. [Q-NW] If data are unclear, do not calculate a self-chosen exemption period from this; instead present the concrete course of events for examination.
In the made-up example, Max commutes between main and secondary residence. Another person also lives in the secondary residence and uses it as their own main residence. Max checks his exemption application; the other person clarifies their own contribution status. His possible exemption is not used as evidence that nothing further needs to be done for all residents.
Do not confuse the application with the decision
Record the actual processing status and open questions. Unilaterally stopping payments is not an organisational substitute for the pending decision. The official explanation read advises continuing to pay until approval. [Q-ERL] Already disputed claims require individual clarification.
After the decision, check the affected person, apartment and period. Changes in use or household will be dealt with appropriately again. The process ends with an actually clarified allocation; it does not promise an exemption for every second residence or a full retroactive reimbursement.