Tools & Calculators
Mietpreisbremse Calculator
Check how Germany's rent brake limits your rental income. Compare the legally permitted rent to market rent and calculate your Rüge refund risk.
The local comparable rent per m² from your city's Mietspiegel. Look it up on your city's official website (links below).
Check if your municipality has an active Mietpreisbremse-Verordnung. Most major cities are covered.
Living area in square metres (Wohnfläche).
The rent per m² you charge or plan to charge.
Select if an exemption from the Mietpreisbremse applies to your property.
How many months the tenant could claim a refund for (from Rüge date). Enter 0 if no Rüge yet.
Enter to see gross yield impact.
Understanding the Rules
How the Mietpreisbremse Works
Calculate your rental yield
Use the Mietpreisbremse-adjusted rent to see your realistic net yield.
Read the full Mietpreisbremse guide
Complete legal analysis with exemptions, BGH rulings, and practical strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mietpreisbremse (rent brake)?
The Mietpreisbremse is a German law (§§ 556d–556g BGB) that caps the rent for re-lettings in designated tight housing markets. When renting out an existing apartment to a new tenant, the rent may not exceed the ortsübliche Vergleichsmiete (local comparable rent from the Mietspiegel) by more than 10%. It has been in effect since June 2015.
Where does the Mietpreisbremse apply?
The Mietpreisbremse only applies in areas designated by state governments as angespannte Wohnungsmärkte (tight housing markets). As of 2026, this includes most major German cities — Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, and many surrounding municipalities. Rural areas and smaller towns are generally not covered.
Are new builds (Neubau) exempt from the Mietpreisbremse?
Yes. Apartments first used and rented after October 1, 2014 are permanently exempt from the Mietpreisbremse (§ 556f Satz 1 BGB). This exemption applies to all subsequent re-lettings, not just the first tenant. This makes new builds particularly attractive for investors in rent-controlled areas.
What happens if I violate the Mietpreisbremse?
There are no criminal penalties, but the financial consequences can be significant. If a tenant sends a Rüge (formal complaint), you must reduce the rent to the permitted level and refund all excess rent collected from the Rüge date onward. Over several years, this can amount to thousands of euros in lost income and refunds.
What is a Rüge and how does it work?
A Rüge is a formal written complaint from the tenant stating that the rent exceeds the Mietpreisbremse cap. Since the April 2020 reform, a simple notification in Textform is sufficient — the tenant does not need to provide detailed calculations. From the Rüge date, the tenant can claim refunds for any excess rent paid.
How do I find the ortsübliche Vergleichsmiete for my area?
The primary source is your city's Mietspiegel (rent index), available on the city's website or from local Mieterverein/Haus & Grund associations. Most cities with over 50,000 inhabitants are required to publish a Mietspiegel. The qualified Mietspiegel (qualifizierter Mietspiegel) has legal presumption of accuracy in court.
Can a comprehensive modernisation exempt my property?
Yes, but the bar is high. A comprehensive modernisation (umfassende Modernisierung) must be so extensive that the apartment is essentially comparable to a new build in quality and condition. This typically requires investment of about one-third of comparable new build costs and work on multiple core elements (heating, windows, electrical, plumbing, bathroom, flooring, insulation).
How to Use This Mietpreisbremse Calculator
1. Select Your City
Choose your city to auto-fill the ortsübliche Vergleichsmiete from the Mietspiegel. If your city isn't listed, select "Enter manually" and input the value from your local Mietspiegel.
2. Enter Apartment Details
Input your apartment's Wohnfläche (living area in m²) and the market rent you charge or plan to charge per m². The calculator compares this to the legally permitted maximum.
3. Check Exemptions
Select if your property qualifies for a Mietpreisbremse exemption — new build (post-Oct 2014), comprehensive modernisation, or Vormiete. Exempt properties can be rented at any price.
4. Assess Your Risk
Review the annual income difference and Rüge refund risk. Enter the months since a potential Rüge to see your total refund liability. Add a purchase price for yield impact analysis.
Understanding the Mietpreisbremse: What Landlords Need to Know
Germany's Mietpreisbremse (rent brake) is one of the most significant regulations affecting landlord returns. Introduced in June 2015 and extended through 2028, it caps re-letting rents at the ortsübliche Vergleichsmiete plus 10% in designated tight housing markets — which now includes virtually every major German city.
For investors, the practical impact is clear: the gross yield you calculate based on market rents may not be legally achievable. A tenant can file a Rüge at any time, forcing you to reduce the rent and refund the excess from the complaint date onward. Over years, the cumulative difference between market and permitted rent can amount to tens of thousands of euros.
The most important exemption is for new builds — apartments first used after October 1, 2014 are permanently exempt. This makes the Mietpreisbremse a key factor when comparing new build vs. existing property investments. For a detailed analysis, read our complete Mietpreisbremse guide.
Once you know your permitted rent, calculate the full investment picture: closing costs with our closing cost calculator, financing with our mortgage calculator, and net yield with our rental yield calculator.