Overview

• Officials estimate that at least 30% of Frankfurt rental agreements charge rents at least 20% above the local comparative rate.
• From 2020 to 2024, tenants flagged around 1,075 suspected overpricing cases in Frankfurt, prompting €330,000 in repayments and 20 fines totaling €17,800.
• In May 2025 a landlord was convicted of rent gouging for charging rents up to 122% above the legal limit.
• Since the 2020 tenant protection ordinance, Hessian cities have expanded online reporting, preventive rent monitoring and dedicated oversight to enforce legal rent limits.
• Tenant advocates warn many renters hesitate to report overcharges due to power imbalances and a lack of legal knowledge amid tight housing supply.