34 Trade Receivables
The trade receivables break down as follows:
Trade Receivables
Impaired | Not impaired | Carrying amount | |||||||||||||||||
Overdue in the following time bands as of the reporting date | |||||||||||||||||||
in € million | Gross amount | Impairment losses | Neither im- paired nor past due at the end of the reporting period | less than | between | between | between | more than 360 days | Corresponds to maximum risk of loss* | ||||||||||
Receivables from the sale of | 1.2 | -1.2 | 309.0 | 15.0 | 1.1 | 1.2 | – | 1.0 | 327.3 | ||||||||||
Receivables from the sale of | – | – | 117.6 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 121.5 | ||||||||||
Receivables from | 151.5 | -52.5 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 99.0 | ||||||||||
Receivables from other supplies and services | 25.3 | -5.8 | 21.2 | 3.1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.6 | – | 45.4 | ||||||||||
As of Dec. 31, 2023 | 178.0 | -59.5 | 447.8 | 18.2 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 593.2 | ||||||||||
Receivables from the sale of | 1.4 | -1.3 | 33.1 | 10.2 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 0.5 | – | 47.2 | ||||||||||
Receivables from the sale of | – | – | 18.2 | 0.1 | 4.8 | 3.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 27.5 | ||||||||||
Receivables from | 102.1 | -57.2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 44.9 | ||||||||||
Receivables from other supplies and services | 9.5 | -2.8 | 31.6 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.7 | – | 41.4 | ||||||||||
As of Dec. 31, 2022 (adjusted) | 113.0 | -61.3 | 82.9 | 12.5 | 7.4 | 4.7 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 161.0 | ||||||||||
- * The maximum default risk on the receivables from the sale of properties is limited to the margin and the transaction unwinding costs as the title to the properties remains with Vonovia as security until receipt of payment.
Accounting Policies
Impairment losses on financial assets are determined based on the expected credit loss model. The guiding principle of the model is to reflect the general pattern of deterioration or improvement in the credit quality of financial instruments, taking losses that are already expected into account.
The IFRS 9 approach includes the following measurement levels:
- Level 1: Twelve-month expected credit losses (ECLs), which applies to all items (from initial recognition) as long as there is no significant deterioration in credit quality.
- Level 2: Lifetime ECLs (homogeneous debtor portfolios), which applies when a significant increase in credit risk has occurred on an individual or a collective basis of financial instruments.
- Level 3: Lifetime ECLs (based on an individual assessment): If an individual assessment of assets produces objective indications of a need for impairment, then an assessment of the entire maturity of the financial instrument is decisive.
The simplified impairment approach is used with regard to trade receivables (e. g., rent receivables, receivables from ancillary costs, receivables from the sale of properties) and for contract assets pursuant to IFRS 15. This means that there is no need to track the changes in credit risk. Instead, Vonovia has to set up loan loss provisions in the amount of the lifetime expected credit losses both at the time of initial recognition and on each following reporting date.
The carrying amounts of current trade receivables correspond to their fair values.
In principle, all impaired trade receivables are due and payable. As regards the trade receivables that are neither impaired nor past due, there was no indication on the reporting date that the debtors would not meet their payment obligations.
Receivables from the sale of properties arise on economic transfer of ownership. The due date of the receivable may, however, depend on the fulfillment of contractual obligations. Some purchase contracts provide for the purchase price to be deposited in an escrow account. Impairment losses for doubtful debts are recorded up to the amount of the posted proceeds from sales.
Vonovia’s receivables from property letting generally arise at the beginning of the month, are of a short-term nature and result from claims in relation to tenants relating to operating business activities. Due to the (subsequent) measurement at amortized cost, an impairment test has to be performed. The receivables fall under the scope of the calculation of expected credit losses.
In accordance with the general provisions set out in IFRS 9, expected credit losses are to be recognized using the simplified approach for current trade receivables without any significant financing component.
Vonovia uses a credit loss matrix when calculating expected credit losses for trade receivables. The matrix is based on historical default rates and takes current expectations into account, including macroeconomic indicators ( e.g., GDP). The matrix can be used to calculate the expected credit losses for various homogeneous portfolios.
In order to create portfolios for the purpose of assessing the probability of default, the individual clusters of receivables need to have homogeneous credit risk characteristics. As far as receivables from its operating business activities are concerned, i.e., the letting of rental properties, Vonovia makes a distinction between receivables from existing tenants and receivables from former tenants. Both portfolios include current receivables that are exposed to a low level of volatility, as the company’s core operating business is hardly exposed to any major fluctuations.
Calculation Method for Receivables from Former Tenants
The calculation of the probability of default is based on the results of an analysis of the historical probability of default. Cash flows relating to outstanding receivables over the last three years have been analyzed and an average amount of incoming payments for the year in question was calculated on a monthly basis. The average monthly incoming payments were compared against the average monthly receivables for the year in question. Ultimately, Vonovia has been able to collect approx. 4.5% of the average receivables over the last three years. This means that Vonovia sets up risk provisions corresponding to a rounded total of 95% for its receivables from former tenants.
The loss given default comprises the following:
The receivables of former tenants that are being analyzed (amount of the receivable at the time of default) are corrected to reflect retained deposits that serve as security for Vonovia. This is already taken into account as part of the calculation method used for the probability of default.
The average receivables taken as a basis do not include receivables subject to specific valuation allowances that were written off in full.
Receivables from Existing Tenants
When it comes to determining the probability of default with regard to receivables associated with ongoing lease agreements, Vonovia analyzes those receivables that have actually been derecognized over the last three years.
This is performed systematically by way of a receivables management system according to the aspects receivables relating to ancillary expenses, those connected to the product, rent adjustments and payment difficulties.
Impairment losses on trade receivables developed as follows:
Impairment losses on trade receivables
in € million | |||
Impairment losses as of Jan. 1, 2023 | 61.3 | ||
Addition | 17.0 | ||
Utilization | -17.3 | ||
Reversal | -1.5 | ||
Impairment losses as of Dec. 31, 2023 | 59.5 | ||
Impairment losses as of Jan. 1, 2022 | 60.2 | ||
Addition | 28.1 | ||
Utilization | -24.7 | ||
Reversal | -2.3 | ||
Impairment losses as of Dec. 31, 2022 | 61.3 | ||
Within the impairment losses on receivables from property letting, the risk provisions are generally taken into account as follows: For existing tenants, a risk provision corresponding to between 18% and 40% of the receivables, in a total amount of € 10.7 million (December 31, 2022: € 7.5 million), was set up depending on the term. In cases involving payment difficulties, the provision corresponded to between 40% and 95% of the receivables and amounted to € 9.7 million in total (December 31, 2022: € 18.2 million). The risk provisions for former tenants correspond to 95% of the receivables and amount to € 32.1 million in total (December 31, 2022: € 31.5 million).
For contracts with customers who are assigned to Vonovia’s development business, the payment terms pursuant to Section 3 (2) of the Real Estate Agent and Commercial Contractor Regulation (MaBV) generally apply in Germany. Customers also have a contractual obligation to present a financing commitment issued by a credit institution for the entire purchase price. Otherwise, Vonovia is entitled to withdraw from the agreement. In Austria, the installment plan pursuant to Section 10 (2) of the Austrian Property Development Contract Act (BTVG) is normally applied, with customers obliged to pay the entire purchase price into an escrow account. Due to the structure of the standard payment terms in the development business, no separate impairment losses are taken into account on corresponding receivables from customer contracts.
For example, receivables are derecognized if tenants die and have no heirs, if they move to an unknown location or move abroad, if execution is impossible for the court bailiff, in cases involving bankruptcy or if a settlement was reached.
The following table shows the expenses for the full derecognition of receivables as well as income from the receipt of derecognized receivables:
Expenses for the full derecognition of receivables, as well as income from the receipt of derecognized receivables
in € million | 2022 (adjusted) | 2023 | |||
Expenses for the derecognition of receivables | 8.9 | 8.2 | |||
Income from the receipt of derecognized receivables | 6.0 | 6.5 | |||