# German rental law and court rulings > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/german-rental-law-and-court-rulings > Updated: 2026-09-08T13:40:27.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2. German legal rulings continue to refine the boundaries of tenant rights and the validity of rental contracts. While judicial precedents have established that fixed-term leases require specific, non-vague justifications—such as intended personal use or major renovations—recent decisions have expanded into consumer freedom and eviction protections. In a ruling involving Vonovia subsidiaries and a lawsuit by the German Tenants' Association (Deutscher Mieterbund), the Higher Regional Court (OLG) Hamm prohibited clauses that effectively forced tenants to purchase electricity from Vonovia-affiliated providers. The court ruled that tenants must maintain the freedom to choose their own energy suppliers. Furthermore, the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) overturned an eviction order against a long-term tenant. The BGH determined that courts cannot dismiss documented health risks and extensive efforts to secure alternative housing with generic considerations. This decision mandates a new review of the tenant’s specific medical situation and housing search efforts. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-08: Germany: Courts issue rulings on tenant rights and rental contracts German courts have issued several rulings protecting tenant rights, including banning Vonovia from tying electricity contracts to leases and requiring stricter scrutiny of evictions involving health risks. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/germany-legal-rulings-on-fixed-term-rental-agreements ### 2026-08-25: German rental law regulations for horse keeping German rental law distinguishes horses from small pets, requiring specific contractual or situational provisions for their keeping due to their size and impact. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/german-rental-law-regulations-for-horse-keeping --- Cite as: German rental law and court rulings. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/german-rental-law-and-court-rulings