The Union caucus is calling for corrections to the draft tenancy law put forward by Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig of the SPD. Deputy caucus chair Günter Krings told papers of the Funke media group that the proposal still needs adjustments at several points. He cited the need for corrections around index‑linked rents and short‑term lease agreements, warning that without them a proposal that could actually benefit tenants would become unattractive.
Krings said that more transparency on furnished rentals is fundamentally wise, yet the rigid five‑percent flat fee could spark new conflicts. Under Hubig’s version, the furnishing surcharge should be considered reasonable if it does not exceed five percent of the net cold rent for fully furnished premises.
He also stressed that the planned grace‑period payment must be clearly tied to preventing homelessness: “Besides tenant protection, small landlords also need safeguards against non‑paying tenants” he added.
The increase of the ceiling for small renovations to €20,000, as the draft proposes, was praised because construction and craft costs have risen sharply.
Finally, Krings warned that changes to tenancy law alone will not solve the housing crisis. “What matters is that measures actually help and don’t deter investment”. The Union caucus aims to stabilize rents by making construction faster, easier, and cheaper.