German tenants rights?

[Old Merc]

Is any of you familiar with German house renting laws,tenants rights and so on. My Granddaughter and her husband are German citizens, ( I`m UK ) they have 2 children of school age. Have been renting a house in a lovely area for over five years. Been model tenants, kept the property in perfect order, never had a problem.
The landlord has suddenly told them he wants his house back, they will have to vacate in the next few months. Naturally this will cause grief, they both have good jobs locally, the eldest boy passed to attend the local Grammar School.
What are the German rules regarding rental termination? can they demand to stay until they have found suitable permanent accommodation. Any other tips and advice would be appreciated.

[grudas]

few months sounds like a fair play to find a new house?

[journeymanpro]

grudas said:

few months sounds like a fair play to find a new house?

Doesn't sound unreasonable does it.

[blindspot]

They should talk to and/or join their local tenants' association. The association will help them, and make sure that they are being treated in accordance with the contract.

[dudleybloke]

Time to start looking for somewhere else to live.

[Rushjob]

You'll get more relevant information if you put this question in the Germany section for International PH'ers as the folks who post in there actually live in DE

[KAgantua]

Theyre German citizens right? But where are they? Germany? UK? Azerbeijan?

[chalda]

Advise them to contact the local "Mieterverein" (renters association). They will ask for an annual membership fee of about 50-60 EUR and will provide free legal advice and represent you in court, should that be necessary, for free.

As you will probably know, renters enjoy quite some rights in Germany. Being turfed out of rented accomodation is only possible in a very limited number of circumstances. The owners claiming that they need the premises themselves is one of them, but there are many caveats. Best to contact a Mieterverein. If there is none in the area where they live, choose the one in the nearest city.

[Pistonheader101]

Probably best to move on, landlords can make hugely exaggerated damage claims losing the deposit and then some.

[Old Merc]

KAgantua said:

Theyre German citizens right? But where are they? Germany? UK? Azerbeijan?

Why would I be asking about German tenancy laws if they lived in the UK or Azerbeijan ??

[Old Merc]

journeymanpro said:

grudas said:

few months sounds like a fair play to find a new house?

Doesn't sound unreasonable does it.

But is it in Germany? where they are good family homes to rent are very hard to find. Also property prices have gone through the roof, so I think landlords are selling up?

[Wills2]

If they're Germans living in Germany surely they will be able to find out what their rights are? Regardless wouldn't the answer be just be a quick google away?


Like this:

https://housinganywhere.com/Germany/tenant-rights-...

[Old Merc]

chalda said:

Advise them to contact the local "Mieterverein" (renters association). They will ask for an annual membership fee of about 50-60 EUR and will provide free legal advice and represent you in court, should that be necessary, for free.

As you will probably know, renters enjoy quite some rights in Germany. Being turfed out of rented accomodation is only possible in a very limited number of circumstances. The owners claiming that they need the premises themselves is one of them, but there are many caveats. Best to contact a Mieterverein. If there is none in the area where they live, choose the one in the nearest city.

Thank you chalda for the very good information, being German you obviously know what your talking about. Are you familiar with the Lippstadt-Geseke area. In the last 32 years I`ve seen it grow from a small garrison town to a huge boom place. Property prices have gone through the roof. Do you think landlords are taking advantage of this and selling up?

I will pass on your reply to my Granddaughter.

[chalda]

Renters/tenants rights in Germany are really quite extensive. Even if the landlord would be selling, the new owner can NOT evict the tenants. Due to this, properties without tenants in them sell for a higher price. Getting rid of the tenants would be a reasonable behaviour if the landlord plans selling the property. This does not make it legal. Again, ask a Mieterverein.

German are renters, not owners - this is reflected in the laws. There are also extensive laws that govern how far rents can rise - only up to a regional average and only by a limited amount per year. Here in Germany, we are really renting for life (my parents have been living in their rented flat for 50 years now).