Sources and method – Small landlords

All information comes from statutes and official websites. Uncertain points are listed openly below.

List of sources

1. Federal Ministry of Justice (Bundesministerium der Justiz), Gesetze im Internet: BGB §§ 543, 546, 546a, 548, 551, 553, 555c, 556, 556d, 556e, 556f, 556g, 557a, 557b, 558, 558b, 559, 559e, 569, 573, 573c, 577a, 536; AGG § 19; WoVermRG § 2; BetrKV § 2; EStG §§ 7, 21; CO2KostAufG §§ 5, 5a, 5b and Anlage; ZPO § 940a. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
2. Federal Government (Bundesregierung), news item on the Gebäudemodernisierungsgesetz (Art. 1 in force on 29 July 2026); Bundesgesetzblatt 2026 Nr. 226 of 28 July 2026 (§§ 5a, 5b CO2KostAufG). Retrieved 20 September 2026.
3. Datenschutzkonferenz (Data Protection Conference), Orientierungshilfe zur Einholung von Selbstauskünften bei Mietinteressenten of 12 March 2026 with Anlage Musterfragebogen. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
4. Deutscher Bundestag, Gesetzentwurf der Bundesregierung Mietrecht II, BT-Drs. 21/6807 (government draft 29 April 2026; first reading 9 July 2026; in committee, not passed). Retrieved 20 September 2026.
5. Bundesgerichtshof (Federal Court of Justice), judgments of 18 March 2015, VIII ZR 242/13 (also VIII ZR 21/13) and VIII ZR 185/14. Retrieved 20 September 2026.

Uncertain and open points

• Mietrecht II: government draft only (BT-Drs. 21/6807), in committee after the first reading (9 July 2026), not passed. Index-linked rent, furnishing surcharge, short-term lettings and grace-period payment are not current law.
• State law: Which municipalities fall under the rent brake, a reduced rent increase cap, an extended waiting period for termination or a ban on misuse of housing was not researched.
• Gebäudemodernisierungsgesetz: details on landlord duties and on the level of the shares under §§ 5a, 5b CO2KostAufG not checked against the wording.
• Tax: Only basic figures from EStG §§ 7 and 21 (the basis of warm rent according to the tax administration's view was not checked in full text); deductible expenses in individual cases, maintenance expenditure and VAT not checked.
• Cosmetic repairs (Schönheitsreparaturen): BGH judgments of 18 March 2015 confirmed. Own use and rent reduction: case law only partly confirmed; no percentage rates. Grace-period payment: BGH case law on the alternative ordinary termination not checked in full text.
• Insurance: premiums and tariffs not checked.

What this platform does – and what it does not

Wegweiser explains the landlord side of tenancy law in plain language and names legal bases, deadlines and figures from the sources listed. It is not a substitute for legal advice or for a review of your individual case. It does not name local advice centres, addresses or telephone numbers. No personal data is stored. Formal errors in a termination, rent increase or statement can cost you claims: get advice early.