Hessen to expand tenant protection to 71 municipalities

The state of Hessen plans to expand its tenant protection regulations from 49 to 71 municipalities. This expansion is based on a GEWOS Institute report identifying high pressure in local housing markets. Under the proposed rules, rent increases during re-letting would be capped at 10 percent above the local comparative rent, and rent increases for existing contracts would be limited to 15 percent over three years instead of 20 percent.

Additionally, the plan introduces enhanced protection against evictions following the conversion of rental apartments into condominiums, extending the termination ban to six years. The municipalities included in the expansion will also receive increased authority to mobilize land for new residential construction.

However, the city of Kassel will not be included in the expanded list. According to the report, Kassel met only two of the five required criteria to be classified as having a strained housing market. This decision has drawn criticism from local officials, including Building Department Head Simone Fedderke, and the North Hesse Tenants' Association, who argue the city lacks essential tools to combat rising rental costs.