@Brett RiemensniderYou don't need to provide anything to your tenants tax-wise.

They will take the permit fee and send an inspector that will provide some assurance that the work was performed correctly.

Is anyone aware of any of a property management tool that allows PMs to give discounts to tenants who enroll in autopay (similar to how major US phone providers like do these days)?

Connecting with experienced investors or joining local real estate groups can provide valuable insights and help you avoid costly mistakes.

Could you provide guidance on how to navigate this situation from both a tax and mortgage perspective so I won't have issues getting my next property?

I wanted to provide a better quality rental opportunity and figured I could thus attract the higher quality tenants. 

My suggestion would be to cap your utilities at a certain amount and have Tenants pay anything over that amount.That will help you manage your expenses, and also allow Tenants to gage their usage each month, and make adjustments if they don't want to go over the allotted amount.As far as collection, provide the bill showing any overages and just have them pay for it along with their rent. 

Long-term tenants provide consistent income and fewer turnovers.3.Long-Term Growth: Germany’s real estate market avoids the volatility seen in other countries.

Serious investors may pass this by on the info provided.

An LLC when properly formed and administered provides separation and protection of assets that are outside of the LLC from the actions of the LLC.