Tenancy laws and tenant rights highlighted in Germany and Austria

Information regarding tenancy laws and tenant rights is being highlighted in German-speaking regions. In Germany, data from the Federal Statistical Office shows that 52.8 percent of the population lived in rental housing in 2025, the highest rate in the EU.

To address the complexities of rental agreements, including issues like utility billing, maintenance, and modernizations, resources such as the “1x1 des Mietrechts” newsletter series have been introduced to help tenants navigate their rights.

In legal contexts, such as in Austria under the Mietrechtsgesetz (MRG), the responsibility for repairs often depends on specific contract terms. For instance, a broken lock on a storage room door in an older building may not necessarily fall under the landlord's mandatory maintenance obligations unless it poses a serious risk to the property or health.