Werbungskosten
Deductible expenses linked to rental income.
§9 EStG
Werbungskosten are expenses you incur to earn rental income. They are deductible against that income. Typical items: Grundsteuer, insurance, repairs (Erhaltungsaufwand), management fees, mortgage interest (not principal), travel to the property, and advisory fees. AfA is a special subset of Werbungskosten.