BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - According to the German Tenants' Association, rent increases are ending up in court as a point of contention more often than before. In 2025, 21.8 percent of legal disputes between tenants and landlords were triggered by rent increases, compared to 17.4 percent the previous year. The association attributes this rise to mounting pressure in the housing market.
The association reports that it analyzes data from its own legal protection insurance. The most common reason for litigation between tenants and landlords remains general "breaches of contract," such as disputes over whether pets are allowed, issues with defects in apartments, or proceedings related to rent control measures. Cases concerning rent increases rank second, but their share is on the rise.
This trend also applies to disputes over operating costs, which, according to the Tenants' Association, accounted for 16.4 percent of court cases between tenants and landlords last year—up from 15.6 percent in 2024. Ranking fourth in 2025 were conflicts over security deposits (15.7 percent), followed by disputes over personal use claims (6.8 percent).
Overall, legal disputes between tenants and landlords have increased recently. In 2024, district and regional courts handled 197,092 cases, according to the Federal Statistical Office, marking a 7.8 percent rise./vsr/DP/mis
