Rent

Do you rent a place in Berlin and have questions about it? Here you can find information on rent levels, rent increases, defects, and support services.

How high can my rent be?

In Berlin, the Mietpreisbremse (rent control cap) applies. This means that your rent usually must not be more than 10% above the local comparative rent. You can find out what the comparative rent is by using the Berliner Mietspiegel (Berlin rent index).

However, there are exceptions. For example, the rent control cap does not apply if your apartment is newly built or has been newly and extensively modernized.

If your landlord charges more than 10% above the comparative rent due to an exception, they must explain this to you in writing before you sign the contract (for example, by email or letter).

If your rent is too high, you can challenge it and may even get some money back. In the documents, you can find a sample letter of complaint that you can send to your landlord.

You should seek advice at a counseling center if:

  • you are unsure whether your rent is too high
  • you want to challenge a high rent and need support
  • your landlord ignores your complaint
  • you want to know how to file a complaint correctly or need help with the sample letter
  • your rental contract includes a stepped rent (Staffelmiete) or an index-linked rent (Indexmiete)

Rent increases: when can my rent go up?

Rent can be increased under certain conditions .

Sometimes the rental contract includes a special rule on rent increases (Staffelmiete or Indexmiete).

Mietvertrag (rental contract)

If your contract is not an index-linked or stepped rent contract, the rent increase must be explained in writing. These are the two most common reasons:

  • Subsequent rent increase: The landlord may adjust the rent to the local comparative rent
  • Rent increase after modernization: After certain improvements (for example, a new elevator or better insulation), the rent may be increased

Regular repairs, such as fixing broken pipes or removing mold, are not considered modernization. The rent cannot be increased for these. You can find more information here: Zulässige Miethöhe - Berlin.de.

What should you do if you receive a rent increase?

  • Do not sign immediately. You have two months
  • If you simply pay the higher rent, this may be considered acceptance
  • Seek individual advice at a counseling center to check the increase
  • If you do not agree and do not pay the higher amount, this counts as an objection. It is best to send your objection in writing to your landlord
  • If you object, the landlord can file a claim within three months. The court will then check whether the new rent is valid or not

Important

If the rent increase is valid but you do not want to accept it, you can terminate the rental contract with special notice. You must give notice within two months (instead of three) after the rent increase. The contract then ends one month later. Until then, you continue to pay the old rent. This is called the Sonderkündigungsrecht (special right of termination).

How can I report defects in my apartment?

Is there mold, broken windows, or no heating? Then you must report the defect to your landlord immediately.

What should you do?

  1. Write a letter to your landlord and explain the problem. This is called a Mängelanzeige (defect notice)
  2. Collect evidence—for example, if there is noise, keep a noise log and find witnesses
  3. Send photos of the defect as proof with the letter or email
  4. Send the letter by registered mail or deliver it in person. Ask for written confirmation of receipt

If there is a defect in the apartment and the landlord does not fix it quickly, this may be a reason to reduce your rent. Before you do this, seek advice to make sure you do everything correctly.

You should seek advice at a counseling center if:

  • you are not sure whether it is actually a defect
  • you want to reduce your rent
  • your landlord does not respond
  • you do not know how to write the letter correctly

Counselling

Do you still have questions? Here you can find free, multilingual support that suits you.

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Locations in this map

Ankommen in Spandau: Gemeinsam unter einem Dach

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Advice on finding accommodation

Together under one roof" is aimed at people who live in shared accommodation and want to take the step into their own apartment. The goal of the project is to accompany the transition into their own apartment, from the search for housing to settling into the new living environment.

If interested and needed, we also offer assistance to new immigrants who have problems finding their way around the Berlin housing market. Tenants who have questions about their tenancy agreement, tenancy law and utility bills can also find support from us.

Offer:

Advice on questions about finding a flat, applying for a flat, costs of the flat or the tenancy agreement.

Languages: German and English (with translation into other languages if required)

hours:

Address

Reformationsplatz 2
13597 Berlin
Germany

Office Hours

[DeepL:] Monday to Friday from 08:30 to 16:30

Supporting Organisation
Gesellschaft für interkulturelles Zusammenleben gGmbH (GIZ)
Phone
+49 30 513 0 100 80

BACIM

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Contact and counselling centre and a meeting place for women with a migration background

Social and psycho-social counselling

  • with the application and enforcement of social welfare claims such as unemployment benefit II, social welfare benefit, housing benefit, child benefit, etc., as well as with benefit claims for EU citizens and their family members
  • in questions concerning health care such as health insurance, sickness benefit, applications according to the law for severely handicapped persons
  • in case of personal and/or family conflicts/crises
  • in case of foundation applications of the state of Berlin "Stiftung Hilfe für die Familie" in case of pregnancy and/or family emergencies
  • in pension matters through the insured person's elders of the pension insurance company
  • in legal matters, if required, with the support of a Turkish-speaking lawyer on the following topics: Tenancy law, Turkish family law, aliens law, citizenship law, labour law.
Address

Oldenburger Straße 22
10551 Berlin
Germany

Office Hours

[DeepL:] Monday from 11:00-15:00
Pension advice if required Mondays from 11:00 - 13:00
Tuesday from 11:00-16:00
Legal advice on the first Tuesday of every month from 16:00 to 18:00
Wednesday from 11:00-15:00
Friday 10:00-14:00
Please make an appointment for consultation.

Supporting Organisation
DRK-Kreisverband Berlin-Zentrum e.V.
Phone
+49 30 3 95 30 37

Beratungen

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Address

Wassertorstraße 48
10969 Berlin
Germany

Supporting Organisation
Wassertor e. V.
Phone
+49 30 6150 7261

elele-Nachbarschaftszentrum

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[DeepL:] Consulting services

[DeepL:] * Parental counseling

  • General social counseling
  • Tenant counseling for members of the Berliner MieterGemeinschaft
Address

Hobrechtstraße 55
12047 Berlin
Germany

Supporting Organisation
Nachbarschaftsheim Neukölln e.V.
Phone
+49 30 623 60 92

Fair mieten – Fair wohnen

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Berlin office against discrimination on the housing market

The Berlin office against discrimination on the housing market advises and accompanies people free of charge who are discriminated against on the basis of (ascribed) origin, language, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age or social status.

  • Writing letters of complaint,
  • referral to further support services
  • Accompaniment to talks
  • assistance in court.

Consultation by appointment via contact form on our website or telephone

Address

Oranienstraße 53
10969 Berlin
Germany

Office Hours

[DeepL:] By appointment

Supporting Organisation
asum GmbH, Türkischer Bund in Berlin und Brandenburg (TBB)
Phone
+49 30 62731668

Gutshaus Lichterfelde

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[DeepL:] Legal advice

[DeepL:] Free consultation with attorneys as your first point of contact:

Tuesdays, every two weeks from 5:00 - 6:00 pm. Only with registration on the following topics in rotation:

  • Family law (divorce/maintenance/intercourse)
  • ALG II/basic security law - medical liability law
  • Inheritance and disability law or
  • general special counseling (Where do I have to go?)
  • family law, especially divorce law
  • Inheritance law, especially wills and living wills
  • traffic law and law of misdemeanors
  • aliens and asylum law.
Address

Hindenburgdamm 28
12203 Berlin
Germany

Office Hours

[DeepL:] Telephone registration is necessary

Supporting Organisation
Stadtteilzentrum Steglitz e.V.
Phone
+49 30 84 41 10 40

Mietberatung

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LAF Performance Center Darwinstraße

In the tenancy advice service, you will receive all the important information on the subject of finding an apartment. You will also learn about your rights and obligations as a tenant and where you can find housing offers. This counselling is voluntary. You will be supported by language mediators.

Address

Goslarer Ufer 15
10589 Berlin
Germany

Office Hours

Registration for rental advice during opening hours;
Monday/Tuesday/Thursday: 08:00 - 14:00 hrs.
Wednesday: closed, only emergency service from 08:00 - 12:00 hrs
Thursday: 14:00 - 16:00 Consultation hours for employed persons and trainees with an appointment
Friday: 08:00 - 12:00 hrs

Phone
+49 30 902 253 203

Nachbarschafts- und Familienzentrum "Kiek in"

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[DeepL:] Consultations

[DeepL:] * Social and debtor counseling

  • Legal advice from the consumer center
  • Social and tenancy law advice for tenants
  • and much more.
Address

Rosenbecker Str. 25/27
12689 Berlin
Germany

Supporting Organisation
Kiek in e. V. Berlin
Phone
+49 30 933 94 86

Nachbarschaftshaus ORANGERIE

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[DeepL:] Consulting services

[DeepL:] * Nutritional counseling

  • Energy debt counseling
  • Family service center
  • Mediation and conflict counseling
  • Legal counseling
  • Self-help counseling
  • Consultation hours of the tenants' council
  • Social counseling for rheumatism patients
Address

Schulze-Boysen-Str. 38
10365 Berlin
Germany

Supporting Organisation
Kiezspinne FAS Nachbarschaftlicher Interessenverbund e.V.
Phone
+49 30 55 48 96 35

Nachbarschaftshaus Stadtschloss Moabit

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[DeepL:] Consulting services

[DeepL:] * Tenancy law advice

  • Social and care counseling
  • Energy debt counseling
Address

Rostocker Str. 32
10553 Berlin
Germany

Supporting Organisation
Moabiter Ratschlag e.V.
Phone
+49 30 390812-0

Nachbarschaftsheim Neukölln

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Address

Schierker Str. 53
12051 Berlin
Germany

Supporting Organisation
Nachbarschaftsheim Neukölln e.V.
Phone
+49 176 407 832 11

Staakentreff Obstallee

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[DeepL:] Consulting services

[DeepL:] * General social counseling

  • Tenancy law counseling
  • Family counseling
  • Pension counseling
  • Migration counseling for adults
  • Addiction counseling
Address

Obstallee 22 e
13593 Berlin
Germany

Supporting Organisation
Gemeinwesenverein Heerstr. Nord e. V.
Phone
+49 30 91 49 08 89

Stadtteilladen Halk Kösesi

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[DeepL:] Social counseling & questions of all kinds

[DeepL:] * Open social counseling

  • Legal counseling
  • Pension counseling
  • Special counseling appointments in the Halk Kösesi district store
  • Counseling for children, adolescents, their parents and families
  • Jobmobil
  • Tenant counseling for members of Mieterinitiative Steglitz e.V.
Address

Crellestraße 38
10827 Berlin
Germany

Supporting Organisation
Stadtteilverein Schöneberg e. V.
Phone
+49 30 78 70 40 50

Stadtteilzentrum KREATIVHAUS

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[DeepL:] Advice & help

[DeepL:] * Open advice for tenants

  • Social counseling
  • Legal advice on family and inheritance law
Address

Fischerinsel 3
10179 Berlin
Germany

Supporting Organisation
FIPP e.V.
Phone
+49 173 243 34 56

Stadtteilzentrum Pankow

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[DeepL:] Consulting services

[DeepL:] * Tenant counseling for members of Berliner MieterGemeinschaft

  • Free tenant counseling on behalf of the Pankow district office
  • General independent social counseling
  • Advice on social and participation benefits
  • Social counseling in Arabic and Kurdish
  • Counseling on education and career
  • Counseling on professional re-entry
  • Academic counseling for refugees
  • Counseling for refugees with disabilities
  • Counseling for women who have experienced violence
  • and much more.
Address

Schönholzer Str. 10
13187 Berlin
Germany

Supporting Organisation
Bürgerhaus BüHa gGmbH und Humanistischer Verband Berlin-Brandenburg
Phone
+49 30 499 87 09 00

Stadtteilzentrum Villa Mittelhof

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[DeepL:] Consulting services

[DeepL:] * General advice on inheritance, family, social, labor and tenancy law.

  • Counseling for the elderly
  • Family counseling
  • Couple counseling
  • and much more.
Address

Königstraße 42-43
14163 Berlin
Germany

Supporting Organisation
Mittelhof e.V.
Phone
+49 30 80 19 75 11

To Spiti Beratung-Begegnung-Beteiligung (ehemals Interkulturelles Frauen- und Familienzentrum To Spiti

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General social counselling

Are you new to Berlin or have you been living here for a while and have questions about rent, health, pensions, social legal claims or the job market? To Spiti advises and helps people with a migration background and new immigrants who have been living in Berlin for a longer period of time. General social counselling is offered in German and Greek. It takes place in the Haus der Begegnung in Berlin-Neukölln.

Address

Morusstr. 18a
12053 Berlin
Germany

Office Hours

Open consultation hours on Thursdays from 12.00 - 14.00 hrs
and appointments by telephone

Supporting Organisation
Diakoniewerk Simeon gGmbH
Phone
+49 30 682 477 15 oder +49 30 682 477 22

Treffpunkt Burscheider Weg

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[DeepL:] Consulting services

[DeepL:] * Social counseling

  • Tenant counseling
  • Advice from Pflegestützpunkt Spandau
Address

Burscheider Weg 21
13599 Berlin
Germany

Supporting Organisation
Gemeinwesenverein Haselhorst e.V.
Phone
+49 30 334 51 51

Wohnraumberatung für Menschen mit Flucht-/Migrationshintergrund

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[DeepL:] WIB.diversity

[DeepL:] For refugees and people with a migration background who live in Pankow and are looking for an apartment. We help individual adults and families.

  • Information on finding housing (e.g. search the Internet, documents, applications, cost transfers, electricity/gas/telephone, etc.).

    *Assisting with housing applications and paperwork.

    *Hunting for an apartment together to show how it is done

    *Assisting with initial apartment viewings, if necessary

    *Assistance in signing the lease, help in understanding the lease agreement

    *Education on rights and responsibilities as a tenant.

    *Referral to other important counseling services
Address

Börnestraße 12
13086 Berlin
Germany

Office Hours

[DeepL:] We have a telephone consultation hour. For new registrations please call the office hours: Wednesdays, 9.00-13.00 hrs.

Supporting Organisation
WIB – Weißenseer Integrationsbetriebe GmbH
Phone
030 303 440 - 52