Rent Control in Hamburg: What Tenants Should Know.

Does rent control apply in Hamburg?

Yes. Rent control applies throughout the entire city of Hamburg.

Because Hamburg is a city-state, rent control applies city-wide – there is no list of individual municipalities as in the larger territorial states. The legal basis is the federal law in place since 2015, which Hamburg implements through its Rent Limitation Ordinance (Mietpreisbegrenzungsverordnung). The current version took effect on 1 January 2026, after the federal government extended the legal basis until 31 December 2029. It follows on directly from the previous ordinance and continues to apply to the entire city. (Source: hamburg.de)

How rent control came to Hamburg

In Hamburg, too, rent control had to clear several hurdles before it applied with legal certainty. An overview of the key milestones:

• 1 July 2015Hamburg introduces rent control city-wide for the entire urban area. On re-letting, rents may be no more than 10 percent above the local comparable rent.
• June 2018The Hamburg Regional Court declares the 2015 ordinance invalid because the senate – like several other federal states – had failed to publish a justification when introducing it (a formal error under Section 556d of the German Civil Code).
• 3 July 2018The senate issues a new Rent Limitation Ordinance and, on 10 July 2018, publishes the justification in Hamburg's Law and Ordinance Gazette.
• 11 July 2018With the properly justified re-enactment, all Hamburg tenants regain legal certainty. Rent control applies to new rental agreements from this date – still city-wide across the entire urban area.
• 1 April 2020The federal government tightens the law: since then, overpaid rent can be reclaimed for up to 30 months retroactively.
• 17 July 2025The federal government extends the legal basis for rent control (Section 556d of the German Civil Code) until 31 December 2029.
• 1 January 2026Hamburg re-issues the Rent Limitation Ordinance. It continues to apply city-wide across the entire urban area until 31 December 2029.

Until when does rent control apply in Hamburg?

How well does the law work in Hamburg?

After the initial formal error, rent control in Hamburg has stood on solid ground since 2018. It has since been extended several times, tightened in its effect and now runs until the end of 2029. For Hamburg tenants this means long-term legal certainty: anyone paying more than 10 percent above the local comparable rent can reduce their rent and reclaim overpaid amounts.

Even so, some landlords still try to get around rent control with tricks. At the same time, many Hamburg tenants aren't even aware of their rights. That makes it all the more important to take action – there are many good reasons to invoke rent control. The more households enforce their rights, the more slowly Hamburg's rent index rises, and with it the basis for calculating the local comparable rent.

When does rent control not apply?

There are nationwide exceptions in which rent control cannot be invoked. They also apply to tenancies in Hamburg:

Beyond these nationwide rules, Hamburg has not defined any further exceptions. Even if one of the exceptions applies to you, we still recommend a check. Hamburg also has a reduced cap on increases: landlords may raise the rent by no more than 15 percent within three years. So in many cases you're still entitled to a reduction because of unlawful increases.

How do I use rent control in Hamburg?

The easiest way to enforce rent control is with CONNY – with no paperwork and no cost risk. Here's how it works:

1. Check your rent

   Check on our website in just a few minutes, free and non-binding, whether your Hamburg rent is too high.

2. Get your result

   You'll find out right away whether and by how much you can reduce your rent.

3. Instruct CONNY

   If a rent reduction is possible, instruct us to enforce it. We pay a partner lawyer and handle all communication with your landlord.

4. Reduce the rent & reclaim money

   We enforce your claim. You only incur costs if we're successful for you.

How to enforce your rights with CONNY

CONNY is the leading consumer-rights platform and champions tenants' rights. We're always friendly and professional and aim for an amicable agreement with your landlord. If that doesn't work, we'll go to court for you – and cover all legal and court costs.

Thousands of tenants have already enforced rent control with CONNY. On average, you can expect savings of 200 euros per month.

*Full coverage of legal and court costs. Costs only arise if we succeed.