Overview
- Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig released a draft in early October 2026 that would let victims more easily end shared rental contracts by giving them a clear legal claim against the perpetrator to exit the lease.
- The bill would allow victims to demand that perpetrators pay rent and cover damages that arise after the victim leaves, turning a patchwork of court decisions into a uniform statutory right.
- Family courts would be able to extend protective measures to children and other dependent household members without separate applications, shortening steps for vulnerable people to get orders.
- The draft includes enforcement tools such as electronic ankle monitors for high‑risk cases and a path to earlier divorce when violence meets the legal standard of 'unzumutbare Härte', but practical rollout details are not set.
- Advocates and experts warn the law’s impact will depend on funding, shelter capacity and accessible services, with reports noting large gaps in women’s shelters and barriers for older or care‑dependent victims.