Immobilien: Mietrecht-Reform trifft Vermieter hart – Hunderte Euro weniger

Private landlords in Germany face significant challenges with the new tenancy law reform, according to Kai Warnecke, president of the private property association Haus & Grund. The proposals are seen as a "vote of no confidence" against private landlords and a further attack on the functionality of the rental housing market, Warnecke stated.

The new law, proposed by Federal Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig in February and adopted by the cabinet, introduces extensive changes for the approximately 5.5 million private landlords in Germany. These changes include a new price ceiling for furnished apartments, stricter regulations, and tighter rules. In an effort to protect tenants, the law mandates that landlords disclose the amount they charge for furnishing apartments before a lease agreement is made.

Failure to do so would result in tenants only paying the rent for unfurnished apartments. However, landlords can still add the furnishing charge after the fact. This change aims to prevent landlords from taking advantage of tenants by charging exorbitant fees for furnishing apartments. Additionally, the reform introduces a two-year "cooling-off" period for unfurnished apartments, during which the apartment is considered unfurnished for rent calculation purposes.

This change brings the rental market in certain parts of Germany under much stricter regulations. According to a study, the share of furnished and temporary rentals in housing markets with over 500,000 inhabitants in major cities exceeded 30% as of the end of 2024. However, this figure may be skewed because traditional listings have decreased.