Rising rent
Rental price brake extended- Minister threatens with fine
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For Federal Minister of Justice Stefanie Hubig, the extension of the rental price brake is only a first step. She thinks that if you ask for excessive rents, you should be feared more than before.
The rental price brake for new rentals in coveted residential areas will be extended by the end of 2029. A corresponding draft law of the black and red coalition found the necessary majority in the Federal Council.
The rental price brake applies in areas that determine the respective government of the federal state 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 comparative rent. This means the average rent for comparable apartments, which can be found in rent index, for example.
Except of the brake are, among other things, newly built apartments that were first rented after October 2014 and apartments that are rented again for the first time after a comprehensive modernization.
From the perspective of Federal Minister of Justice Stefanie Hubig (SPD) alone, the extension of the rental brake, which is now approved by the Bundestag and the Federal Council, is not sufficient to protect tenants from excessive claims. “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.
Tenant can reclaim excessive rent
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.”
If you are afraid, do not contradict
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 don’t contradict in case of doubt.” Therefore, the legislator must work here.
Suggestions should be available by the end of 2026
The Commission on Rentrecht Questions should submit its proposals by December 31, 2026 at the latest. The committee should belong to experts from the judiciary and science, from the associations of tenants and landlords as well as from the German Cities Day.
The Commission also has the task of thinking about how the currently relatively toothless regulation as rental usury could be reformed in economic criminal law. She should check how to “give a bite to the rental usury,” said Hubig.
So far: “Anyone who deliberately or carelessly acts for the rental of rooms for living or associated ancillary services inappropriate high fees, promises or accepts.” A rent that is more than 20 percent above the local comparison rent is inappropriate.
NRW Bauin Minister sees other priorities
The North Rhine-Westphalian Minister of Building, Ina Scharrenbach (CDU), emphasizes that the group of experts not only has the task of dealing with teasing ten. Rather, it is about a harmonization of tenancy law regulations.
“Because we no longer have tenancy law, but a tenant law, there are fewer and fewer citizens who choose a rental,” warns the NRW Minister. So that renting will be more attractive again, for example, it should be rewarded for those who rent cheaply.
There is a need for action for short -term rental contracts?
Federal Minister of Justice Hubig has 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. “Index rents can quickly overload tenants if consumer prices attract heavily,” says Hubig. Short -term rental contracts and the rental of furnished apartments could be used to bypass the rental price brake. She wanted to put a stop to this.
Victims should be able to get out of the rental agreement
And Hubig drives another project that affects the landlord. The SPD politician wants to help women who are affected by domestic violence so that they can move out more easily from an apartment rented together with the perpetrator. So far, in such cases it is often difficult to detach yourself from the rental agreement without the participation of the violent partner.
dpa
Source: Stern

I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.