Rent increase due to rising prices?
In these cases it can soon become more expensive
Created: 03/14/2022Updated: 03/14/2022 09:44
By: Andrea Stettner
Gas and oil prices are rising rapidly.
Many tenants therefore fear a sharp rent increase.
But is that even possible given inflation?
Even before the Ukraine crisis, gas prices in Germany rose sharply.
Now the conflict in Eastern Europe is already making itself felt at the domestic gas pumps*.
Because of the significant rise in gas and oil prices, many people in Germany now fear that not only will their utility bills rise sharply, but so will their rent.
But is a rent increase due to inflation even possible?
Rent increase due to rising prices?
That's what experts say
“
Rents in Germany are generally inflation-proof
.
There is no legal basis for an inflation-based rent increase," reassured Volker Rastätter from the Munich Tenants' Association in an interview with
Focus.de
.
"If the local rent is calculated based on the rent index, landlords are not allowed to add an additional inflation surcharge."
However, landlords always have the option of increasing the rent
by 20 percent within three years,
even without justification , up to the reference rent customary in the area.
In particularly tense residential areas, a limit of a maximum of 15 percent applies, the portal
finanztip.de informs.
Also read:
On average, too much rent is paid in these cities in Germany.
Rising oil and gas prices – are rents going up too?
© Fleig / Eibner press photo / Imago
Rising rent to be expected with index lease
The situation is somewhat different in the case of
index leases
.
With this type of rental agreement, the development of the net cold rent is based on the price index for the cost of living of all private households in Germany - and not on the local rent index.
If the cost of living increases, landlords can adjust the rent – even annually if they want.
However, this does not have to be the case: "There is also the option of specifying in the index clause in the rental agreement that the rent is only increased when the index has risen by a certain percentage," explains Gerold Happ, Managing Director of Real Estate and Environmental Law at Haus and reason on
Immowelt.de
.
A look at the rental agreement provides clarity here.
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In the case of leases based on the rent index, however, inflation could also lead to rising rents - if there is a
new rent index.
"It can't be ruled out," warns Raststätter on
focus.de
.
Also interesting:
Traps in the rental agreement that you should pay attention to.
The landlord can increase the advance payment for additional costs – then the rent including heating increases
Although inflation does not have a direct impact on the rent including heating, it does have an impact on the rent including heating:
"What many don't even have on their screens is the advance payment," says Rastätter.
"
The landlord can increase the sum of the monthly advance payments
if the tenant is threatened with a hefty back payment due to the increased heating costs." This increases the rent including heating.
However, as a rule, tenants do not have to fear exorbitant additional payments.
By the way, you can do this in return for a rent increase.
(as) *Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.
