Bundesjustizministerin Stefanie Hubig of the SPD defended her plans to tighten tenancy law against criticism within the coalition and pressed the Union for a swift implementation. “I have received a lot of support for my proposals to change the rental law. Naturally, criticism is also part of the process. Anything else would have surprised me” she told the “Rheinische Post” in its Thursday edition.
Hubig said the proposals strike a balanced compromise: “We want as much protection for tenants as necessary, and as little regulation for landlords as possible”. She added that the changes are already concretely agreed in the coalition agreement and that the draft bill fits within that framework.
She underlined the need for reform, citing legal uncertainty around furnished and short‑term rentals, which hurts tenants and makes it difficult to enforce the Mietpreisbremse. “Some landlords exploit this uncertainty deliberately” Hubig said. “My aim is to prevent that”.
At the same time she stressed that renting must remain attractive. “Many landlords behave fairly” she noted, “but for short‑term rentals, index‑based rents, and especially the exorbitant prices for furnished apartments, stricter rules are necessary to curb exploitation” she said.
Regarding the timetable, Hubig said: “We’re waiting for feedback from the Länder and industry associations. If everything proceeds as planned, we could adopt the draft in the Cabinet by late April or early May. My goal is for the Bundestag to pass the law later this year”. She also remarked that the coalition’s promise is under pressure, as millions of tenants are waiting. “Every week counts” she said.