- Rent control is a federal law (Section 556d BGB), but it only applies where a federal state designates a tight housing market by ordinance.
- It currently applies in 13 of the 16 federal states and around 730 cities and municipalities.
- The federal government has extended the legal basis until 31 December 2029.
- Check the interactive map to see whether your city is included – rent too high? Then you can reduce it.
Does rent control apply to you?
Check in just a few minutes whether your rent is too high – with no cost risk.
Check my rent nowWhy doesn't it apply everywhere?
Rent control is a nationwide law that took effect in 2015. It stipulates that on a new letting the rent may be no more than 10 percent above the local comparable rent. Whether and where it actually applies, however, is decided by the individual federal states: by ordinance they must justify which cities and municipalities count as a "tight housing market". Only there can rent control be invoked.
These ordinances are time-limited and are renewed regularly. The legal basis at the federal level was most recently extended until 31 December 2029, giving tenants long-term certainty.
Does rent control apply in your city?
Search for your city or municipality and check whether rent control applies.
About the data & map
Data source
Based on the federal states' current rent-limitation ordinances and the overview by the German Tenants' Association (Deutscher Mieterbund), as of 12/2025.
Map
Map data © OpenStreetMap, tiles © CARTO. The relevant state ordinance in force at the time prevails.
Note
Rent control can change at short notice. Even if your city is not listed, a free check by CONNY is often worthwhile.
In which federal states does it apply?
At present 13 of the 16 federal states have a valid ordinance. You can see the exact cities, municipalities and validity dates on the map above.
- Baden-Württemberg
- Bayern
- Berlin
- Brandenburg
- Bremen
- Hamburg
- Hessen
- Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- Niedersachsen
- Nordrhein-Westfalen
- Rheinland-Pfalz
- Sachsen
- Thüringen
Currently no rent control applies in Saarland, Saxony-Anhalt and Schleswig-Holstein. Validity dates also differ from state to state, as each state ordinance sets its own deadlines.
When does it apply to your flat?
For you to actually invoke rent control, three things have to come together:
Your city is covered
Your city or municipality is listed in a valid state ordinance – check it on the map above.
No exception applies
No new build (first used after 1 October 2014), no extensive modernisation and no genuinely temporary letting.
Rent above the limit
Your net cold rent is more than 10% above the local comparable rent for your city.
If all three apply, you can reduce your rent and reclaim amounts you have overpaid. Landlords do like to get around rent control, though – for example via a pretextual modernisation or other tricks. When in doubt, a check is always worthwhile.
Your city is included? Then a check is worthwhile.
Find out in just a few minutes how much you could save.
Calculate your savingsHow to reduce your rent with CONNY
Fill in the online form
Check in just a few minutes, free and non-binding, whether your rent is too high. You get your result right away.
We review & you instruct us
We review your case and, once instructed, enforce your claim – if necessary in court with our partner lawyers.
Pay less rent
You pay less from then on and reclaim rent you have overpaid. CONNY covers all lawyer and court costs.
Find out whether your rent is too high.
Free, non-binding and with no cost risk. Thousands of tenants have already enforced rent control with CONNY.