Guides / Rent & rent increases
Rent & rent increases
What rent is permitted, when it may rise and how to check an increase.
Whether a rent increase holds up comes down to a few levers: the ortsübliche Vergleichsmiete (local reference rent), the Kappungsgrenze cap of 15 or 20% in three years (§ 558 BGB), and the form of the notice. For landlords that means justifying it correctly, keeping the deadlines and obtaining consent. For tenants: check before you agree – many increases fail on their reasoning or exceed the cap.
Stepped and index-linked rent (§§ 557a, 557b BGB) and increases after modernisation (§ 559 BGB) follow their own rules. These guides walk through every variant – from the landlord's and the tenant's side, each with the governing statutes.
Guides for landlords
- Indexmiete: How to Calculate a VPI Increase (2026)
Raise an Indexmiete under § 557b BGB: the VPI formula, the one-year lock period and the Textform notice. Calculate the new rent correctly.
- Mieterhöhung in Germany: A Landlord's Guide 2026 (§ 558 BGB)
Mieterhöhung to the ortsübliche Vergleichsmiete: the Kappungsgrenze cap, Mietspiegel, deadlines and form under § 558 BGB, for landlords.
- Mietpreisbremse: What Landlords Must Know When Re-Letting (2026)
The Mietpreisbremse caps re-letting rent at 10% above the ortsübliche Vergleichsmiete (§ 556d BGB). Exceptions, disclosure duty and deadlines.
- Rent increase after modernisation: pass on 8 % (2026)
After a modernisation you may add 8 % of the costs to the annual rent (§ 559 BGB). Kappungsgrenze, the 3-month notice and the Erhöhungserklärung.
Guides for tenants
- How to read and use the Mietspiegel as a tenant (2026)
Understand the Mietspiegel: simple (§ 558c BGB) and qualified (§ 558d BGB), the ortsübliche Vergleichsmiete, and how to check a rent increase.
- Is Your Indexmiete Increase Correct? How to Check (2026)
Check your Indexmiete increase yourself: the VPI formula, the minimum one-year gap, Textform with index figures (§ 557b BGB), and what to do if it's wrong.
- Check a Mieterhöhung: Is the rent increase legal? (2026)
Check your Mieterhöhung against the Kappungsgrenze, the ortsübliche Vergleichsmiete and the consent deadline under § 558 BGB, and learn exactly how to respond.
- Mietpreisbremse check: Am I paying too much rent? (2026)
Mietpreisbremse check: in designated areas rent may exceed the ortsübliche Vergleichsmiete by at most 10%. How to challenge and reclaim an overcharge.
- Modernisierung: tenant rights & rent increase (2026)
Modernisation: the landlord may add 8 % of costs (§ 559 BGB), capped at 3 €/m². Duldungspflicht, Härteeinwand and your Sonderkündigungsrecht.
- Checking a Staffelmiete or Indexmiete (2026)
Check a Staffelmiete or Indexmiete: fixed amounts and 12 months per step (§ 557a BGB), VPI link and Textform (§ 557b BGB). Is the increase legal?
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