Mietpreisbremse bis 2029 verlängert – doch Bochum bleibt außen vor!

The article “Mietpreisbremse bis 2029 verlängert – doch Bochum bleibt außen vor!” is published by the Mieterverein Bochum e.V., a tenant‑association representing renters in the city of Bochum. Authored by Martin Krämer, the press spokesperson for the association, the piece draws on statements from the Deutscher Mieterbund Nordrhein‑Westfalen (DMB NRW), the Mietergemeinschaft Essen, and the Mieterverein Dortmund. It was compiled automatically by the EHC profile routine and reflects the association’s perspective on recent housing policy developments in North‑Rhine Westphalia (NRW).

The state government of NRW has extended the Mietpreisbremse (rent‑brake) from its original expiry at the end of 2025 to the end of 2029, following a federal decision in July. The measure caps new‑contract rents at a maximum of 10 % above the local comparative rent and limits rent increases in existing tenancies to 15 % over three years (instead of the usual 20 %). The extension is hailed by tenant organisations as a safeguard against further rapid rent growth.

Despite the extension, the list of municipalities covered by the rent‑brake has not been updated. Consequently, several large cities, notably Bochum and Essen, were omitted. Critics point out that the underlying study relied on outdated 2020 data, ignoring the 2022 census figures released in 2024. According to those figures, Bochum’s market‑active vacancy rate stands at 2 %, below the 3 % threshold considered “healthy”. Essen’s rent‑burden ratio is 29.2 %, slightly above the state average of 28.9 %. These metrics would have qualified both cities for inclusion under the current criteria.

In Dortmund, the rent‑brake was introduced on 1 March. Early indications show that some large landlords have reduced advertised rents, although many offers remain more than 10 % above the official rent index. Landlords may invoke exemptions when the previous rent was already high, but further increases at tenant turnover are prohibited. Stakeholder Markus Roeser of the Mieterverein Dortmund notes modest but visible effects, and anticipates that the measure’s influence will grow over time.

Beyond the rent‑brake, the DMB NRW advocates for a strengthened Umwandlungsschutz (conversion protection) under §250 Baugesetzbuch, extended at the federal level until the end of 2030. This provision allows states to designate pressure‑hit housing markets where the conversion of rental units into owner‑occupied apartments requires municipal approval. The association urges the NRW government to enact a specific regulation enabling the use of this tool.

Hans‑Jochem Witzke, chairman of the DMB NRW, stresses that updating the municipal list would have been the fairest approach. He also suggests that a simple hearing process—used previously for a related building‑law amendment in 2023—could have incorporated omitted cities without costly data revisions. Martin Krämer and Siw Mammitzsch (Geschäftsführerin, Mietergemeinschaft Essen) echo the sentiment that timely data updates and inclusive consultations are essential for effective rent‑control policy.

For a pan‑European audience focused on sustainable housing, the case illustrates how data accuracy and transparent policy design are crucial for protecting affordable rental stock. Extending rent‑control measures can stabilise housing markets, reduce displacement, and support social sustainability. However, the exclusion of municipalities due to outdated statistics highlights the risk of policy gaps that undermine broader goals of equitable, long‑term housing provision.