Overstepping Rental Costs in Oberkassel, Dusseldorf
In a recent event held in Oberkassel on March 25th, the Düsseldorf Tenants' Association raised concerns about suspected cases of excessive rents in the district, along with neighbouring areas like Niederkassel, Heerdt, and Lörick. The event, organised jointly with the SPD local association Oberkassel-Niederkassel, was an information booth about the rent brake.
According to the Düsseldorf Tenants' Association, preliminary findings from a study suggest that approximately 2.60% of the offered rents may involve rent gouging (§ 291 StGB), and in 13.50% of the cases, the limits for rent price increases (§ 5 WiStG) may have been exceeded. This could potentially mean almost 400 suspected cases of excessive rents in the aforementioned districts, with 372 cases possibly exceeding the limit for rent price increases.
Claus Nesemann, managing director of the Tenants' Association Düsseldorf, advised tenants to check their rent with the rent index, especially when it is increased. He emphasised the importance of tenants being aware of their rights and seeking advice before taking action.
The Düsseldorf Tenants' Association represents the rental and housing policy interests of over 33,000 members and is a member of the German Tenants' Association (DMB). Dr. Zanda Martens, a prominent figure in the association, called for the legislature to close gaps and loopholes in the regulations of the rent brake, rent price increases, and rent gouging.
It is worth noting that the specific December 2022 study by the Tenants' Association Düsseldorf, which delves deeper into these concerns, is not yet available for public consultation. For more detailed data or conclusions from that report, it is recommended to consult the Tenants' Association Düsseldorf's official publications or contact them directly.
Meanwhile, the study by Mietenmonitor UG, which analysed over 22,000 online rental advertisements in Düsseldorf at the end of 2022, did not provide new information about the study's findings in these districts.
Marc-Thomas Klement, chairman of the SPD local association Oberkassel-Niederkassel, stated that the majority of landlords comply with the law, but those who do not should expect effective penalties. He reiterated the importance of landlords adhering to the rent brake regulations to ensure fair and affordable housing for all residents in Düsseldorf.
The Düsseldorf Tenants' Association, in their recent study, has indicated potential violations of the rent brake regulations in the districts of Oberkassel, Niederkassel, Heerdt, and Lörick, with approximately 372 cases possibly exceeding the limit for rent price increases. Dr. Zanda Martens, a member of the association, has advocated for the legislature to address gaps and loopholes in the regulations related to the rent brake, rent price increases, and rent gouging.
