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Hubertz Targets Rent Gouging With Crackdown on Furnished and Index-Linked Leases

An expert review will propose legal fixes to stop sharp rent hikes routed through exemptions and inflation-tied contracts.

Overview

  • Germany’s housing minister said the rent brake’s extension to 2029 is insufficient to protect tenants from excessive increases.
  • Furnished apartments remain outside the rent brake, which Hubertz criticized as a loophole used to charge far above typical rates.
  • She cited cases in big cities where minimal furnishing is used to justify jumps to around €35 per square meter.
  • Index-linked contracts that track the consumer price index drew scrutiny after the energy price surge produced rapid double-digit rent increases.
  • A tenancy-law expert commission has been tasked with examining these practices and delivering proposals for tighter regulation.