Legal · Glossary

MietpreisbremseRent brake

The rent cap on new leases in tight housing markets

3 min read·Updated December 2024

The Mietpreisbremse is Germany’s rent cap in tight housing markets. In designated zones, it limits the initial rent on a new lease to the local Mietspiegel plus ten percent.

What It Limits

The cap applies to the starting rent when a new tenant moves in, in areas a Bundesland has designated as having a strained housing market. It is currently extended into 2029, and tightening it has been a politically active topic.

Key Points

  • Caps the initial rent on a new lease at Mietspiegel + 10% in designated zones
  • Affects how quickly rental income can grow, so it belongs in any yield assumption
  • Rules and designated zones change over time and vary by Bundesland

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Mietpreisbremse (Rent brake) | Financemate Glossary