Sources and method – Tenants

All information comes from statutes and from official or association websites. Uncertain points are named openly below.

List of sources

1. Bundesministerium der Justiz (Federal Ministry of Justice), Gesetze im Internet: BGB §§ 536, 536c, 540, 543, 551, 553, 555c, 555d, 555e, 556, 556d, 556e, 556f, 556g, 557b, 558, 558b, 559, 561, 568, 569, 573, 573c, 574, 574b, 575, 577a, 548; BetrKV § 2; HeizkostenV § 12; CO2KostAufG § 5; WoGG § 12; BerHG §§ 1, 8; SGB II § 22; ZPO §§ 721, 794a. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
2. Deutscher Bundestag, Textarchiv: Mietpreisbremse bis 2029 verlängert (decision of 26 June 2025); hib report on the tenancy law bill (deliberation 9 July 2026). Retrieved 20 September 2026.
3. Bundesministerium der Justiz und für Verbraucherschutz (BMJV), press release "Mietrecht II" of 29 April 2026, legislation page (search hit; direct retrieval failed for technical reasons). Retrieved 20 September 2026.
4. Bundesgerichtshof (Federal Court of Justice), press release on VIII ZR 163/18 and VIII ZR 270/18 of 8 July 2020; decisions VIII ZR 270/22 (16 April 2025), VIII ZR 17/25 (28 October 2025), VIII ZR 91/20 (13 October 2021), VIII ZR 106/23 (2024), VIII ZR 180/18 and VIII ZR 167/17 (22 May 2019). Retrieved 20 September 2026.
5. Bundesministerium für Wohnen, Stadtentwicklung und Bauwesen, Wohngeld page. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
6. Deutscher Mieterbund (German Tenants' Association), mieterbund.de (self-description). Retrieved 20 September 2026.
7. Mietervereinigung Berlin, contribution on Mietrechtspaket II (as of 20 August 2026). Retrieved 20 September 2026.

Uncertain and open points

• Mietrecht II: status after the first reading (9 July 2026) not re-checked up to adoption; government draft only. Provisions on index-linked rent (halving the portion above 3 percent), furnishing surcharge, short-term rentals, remedying arrears (Grace-period payment) in ordinary termination and the modernisation limit (10,000 to 20,000 euros) are not current law.
• Rent reduction: no percentage rates listed. Return of deposit: no deadlines listed. Questions on shared flats (joint liability, moving out): not covered.

What this platform does – and does not do

Wegweiser explains tenants' rights in plain language and gives legal bases, deadlines and figures from the sources named. It is no substitute for legal advice or for a review of your individual case. It names no local advice centres, addresses or phone numbers except bodies documented nationwide. No personal data is stored. Deadlines in tenancy law are strict: get advice early if you receive a termination notice, a lawsuit or a rent increase.