Staffelmiete or Indexmiete: which model fits
How a Staffelmiete (stepped rent) and an Indexmiete (index-linked rent) differ, and what has to be in the lease.
A Staffelmiete sets future rents as fixed euro amounts, while an Indexmiete follows the consumer price index. Agree either one in writing. In both models the rent stays the same for at least twelve months at a time.
What to agree in the lease
Both models have fixed rules. Put these points in the lease.
- 1
Agree it in writing
You must agree a Staffelmiete or an Indexmiete in writing.
- 2
12 months between changes
Each step of a Staffelmiete, and each rent under an Indexmiete, stays unchanged for at least a year.
- 3
Staffelmiete: steps in euros
Write each step into the lease as a fixed amount with a date, not as a percentage.
- 4
Indexmiete: name the VPI
For an Indexmiete, the reference is the consumer price index (Verbraucherpreisindex, VPI) of the Statistisches Bundesamt.
- 5
Indexmiete: adjust by notice
You can adjust an Indexmiete at most once a year, with a notice in text form.
- 6
No other rent increases
While the Staffelmiete or Indexmiete runs, you cannot also raise the rent under the Mietspiegel (local rent index) or for modernisation.
Why this matters
Under §§ 557a and 557b BGB, the rent must stay unchanged for at least a year in both models. Increases under §§ 558 to 559b BGB are excluded. A Staffelmiete without fixed euro amounts does not meet the rules.
General information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a Staffelmiete and an Indexmiete?
A Staffelmiete fixes the amounts and dates in advance. An Indexmiete rises with inflation, at most once a year. With a Staffelmiete you already know today what the rent will be in five years.
How often can a Staffelmiete or an Indexmiete go up?
With a Staffelmiete or an Indexmiete, the rent must stay unchanged for at least twelve months at a time (§§ 557a, 557b BGB). You can adjust an Indexmiete at most once a year, with a notice in text form.
Can I also pass on modernisation costs with a Staffelmiete or an Indexmiete?
While a Staffelmiete or an Indexmiete runs, you cannot raise the rent for modernisation (§ 559 BGB) or up to the local comparable rent (§ 558 BGB). There is one exception. You can still pass on a heating replacement that the Gebäudeenergiegesetz requires.
Also in this topic: Pets in a German rental: what landlords can do in 2026Kleinreparaturklausel: how to write one that is validMaklerprovision & Bestellerprinzip: who pays?Creating a Mietvertrag as a landlord (2026, §§ 535 ff. BGB)
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