Rental price brake: Minister threatens landlords with fine

The extension of the rental price brake decided by the Bundestag until the end of 2029 is not sufficient from the perspective of Federal Minister of Justice Stefanie Hubig (SPD). “After the summer break, an expert commission will start her work, which will deal with further urgent questions of tenancy law,” said Hubig of the German Press Agency. Among other things, this should make suggestions for a fine that refers to violations of the rental price brake. This is also agreed in the coalition agreement between the CDU, CSU and SPD.

The rental price brake applies in areas that determine the respective state government as an area with a tense housing market. If an apartment is re -letted, the rent may be a maximum of ten percent above the local comparison rent at the beginning of the rental. This is the average rent for comparable apartments that can be found in rent index, for example. However, there are exceptions for new buildings that were rented for the first time after 2014 and for extensively modernized apartments.

It is currently the case that the tenant, if a landlord violates the rental price brake, can reclaim the excessive rent from him. “The landlord has no more fears,” criticizes Hubig. “In my view, this is unsatisfactory.”

The SPD politician says that she is important to emphasize that “there are many ordinary landlords in Germany”. At the same time, it is important that many people with smaller and medium -sized incomes do not contradict themselves if an apartment is offered to them at unfair conditions. “If you are afraid of losing your roof over your head, you do not contradict.! Therefore, the legislator must work here.

Hubig had already announced that after extending the rental price brake, she also wanted to change the rules for index rental contracts, short -term rental contracts and furnished living.