🏠 Wegweiser Tenants

Rent increase, service charges, defects, termination or rent arrears: clear answers and the key deadlines.

Legal position: September 2026. The rent brake (Mietpreisbremse, § 556d BGB) applies until 31 December 2029 at the latest. The "Mietrecht II" bill (government draft of 29 April 2026; first reading in the Bundestag on 9 July 2026) has, according to the sources checked, not yet been passed and is marked here as a planned reform. Sources and open points: Sources and limits. Information, not legal advice.

Roadmaps: Get answers, see steps with deadlines – Trouble with your landlord · Can't pay the rent.

Frequently searched

🧾 Service charge statement 📨 Termination by the landlord and personal use ⏳ Rent arrears and grace-period payment 📈 Rent increase and modernisation 💧 Defects and rent reduction 🤝 Advice and contact points

All topic areas

📋BasicsOverview, tenancy agreement, deposit, subletting and shared flats.3 topics 💶Rent and increasesRent brake, index-linked rent, rent increases, modernisation, housing benefit.3 topics 🔥Service charges and heatingService charge statement, heating costs, CO2 cost sharing.2 topics 🛠️Condition of the flatDefects, rent reduction, handover, cosmetic repairs.2 topics 📨Termination and evictionPersonal use, rent arrears, hardship, eviction action, your own termination.4 topics 🤝HelpTenants' association, legal advice assistance and other contact points.1 topic

📋 Basics

Overview, tenancy agreement, deposit, subletting and shared flats.

🏠Overview of tenants' rightsWhat tenancy law protects, which deadlines matter most and where to look first. 📝Tenancy agreement and depositWhat belongs in a tenancy agreement, how high the deposit may be and how it must be invested. 👥Subletting and shared flatsWhen you may sublet part of the flat and what to bear in mind legally in a shared flat.

💶 Rent and increases

Rent brake, index-linked rent, rent increases, modernisation, housing benefit.

📊Rent, rent brake and index-linked rentHow high the rent may be at the start of a tenancy, until when the rent brake applies and what applies to index-linked rent. 📈Rent increase and modernisationWhen and by how much the landlord may raise the rent and which deadlines you have. 🏷️Housing benefit (Wohngeld) for tenantsA rent subsidy for low-income households: who gets it, where to apply and what applies in 2026.

🔥 Service charges and heating

Service charge statement, heating costs, CO2 cost sharing.

🧾Service charge statementHow to check the statement, inspect the records and which twelve-month objection period applies. 🌡️Heating costs and CO2 cost sharingHow heating costs are billed, when you may reduce them and how landlord and tenant share the CO2 price.

🛠️ Condition of the flat

Defects, rent reduction, handover, cosmetic repairs.

💧Defects and rent reductionWhat to do about mould, a broken heating system and other defects, and when the rent may be reduced. 🖌️Handover of the flat and cosmetic repairsWhat to bear in mind when moving in and out, when renovation clauses are invalid and which limitation period applies.

📨 Termination and eviction

Personal use, rent arrears, hardship, eviction action, your own termination.

📨Termination by the landlord and personal useWhen the landlord may terminate, which notice period applies and what you can do in a personal-use case. ⚖️Eviction action and hardshipWhat applies in an eviction action, how the social clause works and how to apply for an eviction period. ⏳Rent arrears and grace-period paymentWhen the landlord may terminate for default on payment and how you can still make a termination without notice ineffective. ✉️Termination by the tenantHow to terminate on time, which special termination rights exist and what applies to fixed-term tenancies.

🤝 Help

Tenants' association, legal advice assistance and other contact points.

🤝Advice and contact pointsWhere to get advice: tenants' association, legal advice assistance, local court and authorities.

For reference

📕Keyword indexAll terms from A to Z, with links to the matching topic pages. 📜Sources and methodWhere the information comes from and what is expressly uncertain. 🏠Other target groupsTo the overview of all Wegweiser portals.

A question about your situation that this page does not answer? Write to us or use the contact form – we will tell you which office is responsible and what to bring. Free of charge, without individual legal advice.