Federal Minister of Justice accelerates: stricter rules for furnished rental prices!

Federal Minister of Justice accelerates: stricter rules for furnished rental prices!

Berlin, Deutschland - Federal Minister of Justice Stefanie Hubig (SPD) has announced today to introduce stricter regulations for the renting of furnished living space. The aim of these measures is to create clarity about the permissible prices for furniture and to prevent the circumvention of the rental price brake by landlords. Hubig relies on his own experience in finding an apartment in Berlin, where she was confronted with excessive prices for partially furnished apartments. "It is necessary that we clearly define the different equipment," says Hubig, which highlights the difference between fully furnished and minimally furnished apartments, which are only limited to some pieces of furniture such as table and chairs.

As part of these reform plans, Hubig emphasizes that the rental price brake, which was extended by 2029, also applies to furnished apartments. This regulation limits the increase in rents in new rentals in areas with a tense housing market, whereby the rent may be a maximum of 10% above the local comparison rent. These measures are particularly relevant because since 2015 the offer rents in the 14 largest independent cities have increased by almost 50%. In Berlin, one of the most affected cities, rents have increased by an impressive 107%.

bypass the rental price brake stop

The planned changes should in particular address the loopholes that the landlords often exploit. The possibility of raising a furniture surcharge that does not have to be listed in the rental agreement has led to many landlords trying to avoid the rental price brake with minimal furniture. The German Tenants' Association (DMB) has already criticized this problem in the past and calls for a tightening of the regulations to ensure a fair rent structure.

The discussion about the rental price brake and the regulations for furnished living is part of a larger political framework. The Bundestag has now extended the rental price brake, which was previously limited until the end of 2025, until the end of 2029. The draft law was introduced by the government parties CDU/CSU and SPD and received the approval of Bündnis 90/Die Greens on June 26, 2025. However, the draft met with resistance on the part of the AfD, which criticized as a symbol policy.

rent increases in focus

The problem is reinforced by the rising supply rents. The causes of these increases are primarily in the lack of living space, which leads to a decline in the number of newly built apartments. In this context, politicians in the coalition emphasize that the planning processes in the municipalities have to be simplified and accelerated in order to counteract the lack of housing. The Greens in particular propose to take further measures to protect under low -income tenants.

The rental price brake is regulated in paragraph 556d of the civil law and will continue to be checked for its effectiveness and necessity in the coming months. Hubig and their fellow campaigners see the upcoming changes as the first step in a more comprehensive reform process in tenancy law. Further regulations have already been requested by the SPD to improve the housing atmosphere for tenants in the long term.

For detailed information on the regulations of the rental price brake and its effects on the housing market, the articles from Tagesschau and Bundesag to be consulted.