Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) defended her plans to tighten rental law amid criticism within the coalition and intensified pressure on the Union to adopt them quickly. “My proposals for changes to the tenancy law have received a lot of support. Of course, criticism is part of the process; anything else would have surprised me” she told the Thursday edition of the “Rheinische Post”.
According to Hubig, her proposal strikes a balanced compromise: “We want as much tenant protection as is necessary and as little regulation as possible for landlords”. She added that the draft is built around what the coalition agreement concretely stipulates for the law.
She stressed the urgency of the reforms, citing the legal uncertainty surrounding furnished and short‑term rentals, which hurts tenants the most. Monitoring the rent‑cap is also more difficult under those arrangements. “Some landlords exploit this uncertainty deliberately, and that’s why I am focused on preventing it” she explained.
At the same time, Hubig underscored that renting must remain attractive. “Many landlords behave fairly. But with short‑term rentals, indexed rents, and particularly the gouging prices for furnished apartments, something has to change. I am for much tighter regulations to curb predatory practices” she said.
Regarding the timeline, Hubig added: “We’re awaiting feedback from the states and associations. If everything goes as planned, we can adopt the draft in the cabinet by the end of April or the beginning of May. My goal is for the Bundestag to pass the law this year”. She also signalled the growing pressure, noting that millions of tenants are waiting for the coalition to keep its promise. “Every week counts” she said.
