Rent usurious app: Thousands of households in North Rhine-Westphalia are resisting high rents!

Rent usurious app: Thousands of households in North Rhine-Westphalia are resisting high rents!

There is rumbling in the tenements of Germany, especially in the large cities of North Rhine-Westphalia. The Left launched the “Mietwucherapp” in November 2023, and with great success: around 135,000 users have since used the app to check their tenancies. The app is now being expanded to four selected cities: Bochum, Bonn, Cologne and Münster. The goal? Create clarity and fight against overpriced rents.

Thousands of households have already submitted complaints about suspected rent extortion using the app. A look at the numbers shows that the situation is alarming: On average, more than 5,000 households in Germany pay 59 percent above the rent index, which amounts to an average of 242 euros too much per month. In total, this amount adds up to up to 1.2 million euros per month, which corresponds to almost 15 million euros annually. That's a good chunk of money that many can't afford.

Trust and fear

Despite the options the app offers, many users hesitate to actually forward a report to the relevant authorities. The fear of possible consequences or repression from landlords means that fewer people exercise their rights. A mutual problem is emerging: Some see themselves caught between the high rents and their own fears.

How exactly rent usury is defined is regulated by the Economic Crimes Act and the Criminal Code. A landlord who charges rents that are more than 20 percent above comparable values ​​is already walking on thin ice. If the rent exceeds the local comparative rent by more than 50 percent, it is even a criminal offense. The legal basis is clear and there are clear regulations on how those affected can defend themselves. In Frankfurt am Main, for example, over 1,000 cases have been processed since 2020, with 330,000 euros being refunded to tenants.

The situation in Cologne

In Cologne, the new developments could have serious consequences for the rental landscape. The Left is campaigning in the Bundestag to reform Section 5 of the Economic Crimes Act in order to be able to impose fines for rent usury more unbureaucratically. This could improve the situation for many tenants.

The signs of change are there. The Left hopes that more people will be informed about the app and demand their rights. Because rent usury is not only a legal question, but also a social one. How long can society afford for housing to become a plaything for speculation and greed for profit? Anyone who pays too much rent not only loses out, but also puts a massive strain on their own budget.

For anyone in a similar situation, the Rent Usury app offers an easy way to compare rents with the local rent index. And if you want to be on the safe side, you should inform yourself better about the legal basis in order to protect your own rights. After all, everyone should be able to get a good deal when it comes to their own home.

For detailed information on the subject of rent usury and the legal framework, take a look at Mietrecht.de. Spiegel also reports comprehensively on the developments surrounding the Mietwucherapp and its effects on tenants. The Süddeutsche Zeitung also provides up-to-date information on the latest statistics and complaints.