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

The new Mietrecht-Reform has hit private landlords hard, with hundreds of euros less in rental income for many. The president of the property owners' association, Kai Warnecke, denounced the proposals as a "vote of no confidence against millions of private renters" and a "further attack on the functionality of the rental housing market."

The new law, proposed by Federal Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig in February and subsequently approved by the cabinet, would bring sweeping changes to the rental market affecting roughly 5.5 million private landlords in Germany. The amendments include a new price cap for furnished apartments, stricter rules for rental increases, and harsher penalties for non-payment.

Private landlords will be required to disclose upfront the additional amount they charge for furnished apartments, which could be as high as 10% of the net gross rent for fully furnished apartments. This is a significant reduction from the initial plan of allowing a 5% surcharge. The law also introduces a two-year "silent period" for landlords to claim back unpaid rent after a tenant falls behind on payments.

This new regulation could significantly impact the rental market, particularly in cities with a high concentration of furnished apartments. The German tenants' association welcomed the planned obligation to separately disclose furnished apartment surcharges, but acknowledged that the reforms would not directly address housing poverty.