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German landlord law: deposit, charges, rent rises, notice

The deposit is capped at three months' net rent, payable in instalments and to be invested separately; operating costs must be settled within twelve months, or any additional claim is lost. The second module covers the increase to the local comparative rent with its cap and consent period, the rent brake on re-letting, and graduated and index-linked rent. The third covers the modernisation surcharge with its per-square-metre cap, and termination with a legitimate interest and notice periods that grow with the tenancy. Three modules with case studies worked on the statute itself.

Intermediate3 modules62 minModule 1 free to read

2026 rules — verified on September 23, 2026

Figures are tied to dated, sourced tax constants. A module whose rules have changed is flagged for review, and is unpublished automatically beyond 90 days.

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By the end of this course, you can…

These outcomes are the modules' own: the promise cannot say anything the course does not teach.

  • calculate the maximum deposit from the net rent and plan for the tenant's right to pay in instalments
  • invest the deposit separately from your own assets and know who is entitled to the interest
  • check which costs can be passed on to the tenant as operating costs and which cannot
  • deliver the annual statement on time and choose the correct allocation key
  • factor the tenant's objection deadline and right to inspect receipts into your own planning
  • check the waiting periods before a request and determine the earliest effective date
  • calculate the permissible new rent as the lower of comparative rent and capped rent
  • justify a request in text form correctly, with a rent index, an expert opinion or comparable flats
  • determine the maximum starting rent and its exceptions when re-letting in a rent brake area
  • agree graduated and index-linked rent validly and gauge their effect on later increases
  • announce a modernisation in time and in full, and plan for the tenant's hardship objection
  • calculate the modernisation surcharge from costs net of the maintenance share and apply the per-square-metre cap
  • assess the simplified procedure for smaller works and its blocking effect
  • name a legitimate interest for ordinary termination and state it in the notice
  • calculate the notice period by length of tenancy and place the tenant's objection correctly

The programme, module by module

Each module has its own page. Durations are derived from the actual text, never announced by hand.

  1. Module 120 minFree — no accountDeposit and operating costs: what may be charged and when the statement is dueWhat you will be able to do
    • calculate the maximum deposit from the net rent and plan for the tenant's right to pay in instalments
    • invest the deposit separately from your own assets and know who is entitled to the interest
    • check which costs can be passed on to the tenant as operating costs and which cannot
    • deliver the annual statement on time and choose the correct allocation key
    • factor the tenant's objection deadline and right to inspect receipts into your own planning
    Read this module
  2. Module 222 minIncluded in the full courseRaising the rent: comparative rent, cap, rent brake, graduated and index-linked rentWhat you will be able to do
    • check the waiting periods before a request and determine the earliest effective date
    • calculate the permissible new rent as the lower of comparative rent and capped rent
    • justify a request in text form correctly, with a rent index, an expert opinion or comparable flats
    • determine the maximum starting rent and its exceptions when re-letting in a rent brake area
    • agree graduated and index-linked rent validly and gauge their effect on later increases
    View the module — full course
  3. Module 320 minIncluded in the full courseModernising and terminating: surcharge, cap, legitimate interest and notice periodsWhat you will be able to do
    • announce a modernisation in time and in full, and plan for the tenant's hardship objection
    • calculate the modernisation surcharge from costs net of the maintenance share and apply the per-square-metre cap
    • assess the simplified procedure for smaller works and its blocking effect
    • name a legitimate interest for ordinary termination and state it in the notice
    • calculate the notice period by length of tenancy and place the tenant's objection correctly
    View the module — full course

What you take away

A handout you keep, not just a page you read. The sections are derived from the course itself: what is announced here is exactly what gets generated.

  • Participant handout (PDF)

    PDF

    • Learning objectives (3)
    • Key figures (10)
    • Mistakes to avoid (3)
    • Official sources (3)

  • Exercise workbook (Word)

    Word

    • Learning objectives (3)
    • Key figures (10)
    • Mistakes to avoid (3)
    • Official sources (3)

Answers live in a separate appendix: the participant handout and the workbook stay distributable before the exercise.

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Where this course leads

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Read in German

Educational content, current with the sources cited. It does not replace advice tailored to your situation. These courses are neither certifying nor CPF-eligible: they prepare for no certification registered with the French RNCP or specific register.