Germany's Mietpreisbremse Extension to 2029: What It Means for Student Renters
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published May 05, 2024 • Student Life, Study in Europe, Education News & Policy
Germany extended the legal basis for its rent brake law, the Mietpreisbremse, to run until December 31, 2029. In designated tight-housing-market areas, landlords cannot charge a new tenant more than 10% above the local reference rent.
⏱️ Extended: state rent-brake ordinances can now run until December 31, 2029
💶 Cap: new-tenancy rent limited to 10% above the local reference rent (ortsübliche Vergleichsmiete)
🏠 Applies only in areas each state government designates as a tight housing market
📩 A separate 15-20% cap limits increases for tenants who stay in place
What the Mietpreisbremse Extension Changes
The Mietpreisbremse limits how much a landlord charges when signing a new rental contract in an area with a tight housing market. Paragraph 556d of the German Civil Code (BGB) sets the rule and the deadline for it. The law states that any state-level ordinance designating a tight-housing-market area "must cease to be effective no later than December 31, 2029," according to the official text of Paragraph 556d BGB . This replaces an earlier, shorter deadline, giving state governments years more room to keep their designations active.
The extension does not change the cap itself. In a designated area, a landlord cannot set the rent for a new tenant more than 10% above the local reference rent for comparable homes, tracked through each city's rent index (Mietspiegel). Exceptions still apply: new buildings first let after October 2014, and substantially modernised homes, fall outside the rule.
A Separate Cap for Existing Tenants
The Mietpreisbremse covers new contracts only. A different rule, the Kappungsgrenze under Paragraph 558 BGB, limits how much rent rises for a tenant who stays in the same home. That cap sits at 20% over three years in most areas, dropping to 15% over three years in designated tight-housing-market areas, according to the official text of Paragraph 558 BGB . Students should know which rule applies to their situation: the Mietpreisbremse when moving into a new place, the Kappungsgrenze when a current landlord raises the rent.
Why This Matters for Students Renting
Students typically sign new tenancy contracts every year or two, moving between shared flats, dorms and private rentals. Every new contract in a designated area falls under the 10% cap, giving incoming students a legal ceiling to check their offer against, using the local Mietspiegel.
Each state government (Land) decides which cities and regions count as tight housing markets and must publish its reasoning and a plan to address the shortage. Many major university cities hold this designation, though the exact list is state-specific and reviewed periodically rather than fixed in federal law. The 2029 extension keeps existing protections in place instead of letting them lapse mid-decade.
Checking Your Rent Against the Cap
Confirm whether your city or district is a designated tight-housing-market area under your state's current ordinance.
Ask the landlord or check the local Mietspiegel for the comparable local reference rent for your unit.
Compare your offered rent to that reference figure plus 10%.
Contact your local tenants' association (Mieterbund) if your rent looks too high.