🤝 Advice and contact points
In brief
In a housing dispute you do not have to stay on your own.
- Tenants' association (Mieterverein): The German Tenants' Association (Deutscher Mieterbund) is the umbrella body of 15 state associations and over 300 local tenants' associations. They advise in person, by phone and online, for example on rent increases, termination, deposit and service charges. You generally become a member there.
- Legal advice assistance (Beratungshilfe): If your money is not enough, Beratungshilfe can cover the cost of legal advice from a lawyer. Conditions include that there is no other reasonable help and that using it is not abusive.
- Local court (Amtsgericht): Beratungshilfe is usually applied for there (the Rechtsantragstelle helps). Your local court is also responsible for lawsuits.
- Jobcenter and social welfare office (Sozialamt): for rent arrears and imminent loss of your home.
Go early, ideally with all documents: tenancy agreement, letters from the landlord and proof of payments.
Step by step
- Gather documentsTenancy agreement, dated letters, statements, photos, proof of payment.
- Find a tenants' associationUse the search on the German Tenants' Association (Deutscher Mieterbund) website to find your local association.
- On a low incomeAsk the local court (Amtsgericht) about legal advice assistance (Beratungshilfe) for an initial consultation with a lawyer.
- In an emergencyIf you are about to lose your home, contact the Jobcenter or social welfare office (Sozialamt) immediately.
Deadlines
- Specific addresses and phone numbers of local bodies are not listed here. Look them up via the website of the German Tenants' Association or your local court.
- Membership of a tenants' association costs a fee. The amount depends on the association, not checked here.
- Beratungshilfe is not legal aid (Prozesskostenhilfe). It covers advice outside of proceedings.
- This Wegweiser is no substitute for legal advice.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals
German Tenants' Association (Deutscher Mieterbund, DMB)
By its own account, the DMB is the largest tenants' association in Germany: umbrella body of 15 state associations and over 300 local tenants' associations with around 1.25 million member households and more than 500 advice centres. Services: personal and telephone legal advice, online advice, legal expenses insurance, support with rent increases, termination, deposit and operating costs. Members find their regional association via the website mieterbund.de.
Legal advice assistance (Beratungshilfe), BerHG
Under § 1 BerHG, Beratungshilfe is granted if the person seeking advice cannot raise the necessary means given their personal and financial circumstances, no other reasonable means of help exist and using it is not abusive. It is abusive if a person without financial means, on a sensible assessment of all circumstances, would forgo it at their own expense. Under § 8 BerHG, the remuneration of the adviser is governed by the Lawyers' Remuneration Act (Rechtsanwaltsvergütungsgesetz); persons seeking advice can only be charged the Beratungshilfe fee (§ 44 Satz 2 RVG). The Beratungshilfe fee is €15.00 (Nr. 2500 VV RVG, Anlage 1 zum RVG), no expenses are charged, and the fee can be waived. Application under §§ 4, 6 BerHG to the local court of the general place of jurisdiction of the person seeking advice, orally or in writing; a subsequent application is possible within four weeks.
Social authorities
For rent arrears and imminent homelessness, the Jobcenter (§ 22 Abs. 8 SGB II) and the social welfare office (Sozialamt) come into consideration. Under § 22 Abs. 9 SGB II, the court informs the responsible office of eviction actions for rent arrears.
Housing benefit (Wohngeld)
For ongoing rent relief, the local housing benefit office is responsible. The BMWSB federal hotline can be reached at 030 20179050 (Mon to Thu 8 am to 6 pm, Fri 8 am to 12 pm).
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.