German Tenants' Association: Every second tenant fears losing their affordable apartment

Every second tenant in Germany (50 percent) fears that they will not be able to find an affordable replacement apartment if necessary. The German Tenants’ Association (DMB) points this out in its current “Rent Report 2026”. A survey commissioned by the tenants' association by the opinion research institute Forsa also shows that 29 percent of tenants are worried that they will no longer be able to pay their rent in the future.

More than half (58 percent) of those surveyed reported that their housing costs – rent or additional costs – had increased in the past twelve months.

According to the survey, one in four people are saving on healthy food because of the increased housing costs. 15 percent saved on their own health, for example on medication or dentures.

1021 tenants were surveyed between June 29th and July 7th. According to the information, the survey is representative.

The rent crisis has become more entrenched, says DMB President Melanie Weber-Moritz. Many tenants live in fear of losing their home, which sometimes also means that they shy away from asserting their rights - for example by demanding a reduction in rent with reference to the rent cap.

The rent cap only applies in regions that are designated as areas with a tight housing market. When renting a new apartment, the rent may initially be no more than ten percent higher than the local comparative rent. There are exceptions for the first rental of new buildings, for comprehensive modernization, for older contracts and for short-term rentals.

The DMB sees the tightening of tenancy law decided by the cabinet in April as positive. However, from the umbrella association's point of view, they are not enough to allay tenants' fears of cost increases and loss of housing. This requires, among other things, a “nationwide rent freeze” for a certain period of time and fines for landlords who charge exorbitant rents or violate the rules of the rent control, says Weber-Moritz.

The federal government's draft, which the Bundestag still has to decide on, provides for stricter requirements for renting furnished apartments. Anyone who has signed an index rental agreement as a tenant should be protected from particularly high increases in rental costs. Short-term rental contracts should generally be permitted for a maximum of six months.

There is currently a shortage of around 1.4 million apartments in Germany, explains the tenants' association. The establishment of a federal company, announced by the coalition committee at the beginning of July, could at least partially help create more affordable housing, says Weber-Moritz.