Editorial standards

Our guides exist to answer a question about German tenancy law reliably – in plain language, but without giving up precision. So that you can rely on them, we hold to a fixed set of editorial standards.

What our guides are based on

The basis of every guide is the statute text itself – the BGB, the BetrKV, the HeizkostenV, the GEG, the EStG and the other relevant laws. We cite the governing paragraphs directly in the text and link them at the foot of each guide to gesetze-im-internet.de, the official portal of the German Federal Ministry of Justice, so you can read every statement in the original.

How we check figures and deadlines

• Every legal statement names the paragraph it rests on.
• Figures, deadlines and percentages are cross-checked against at least two reputable sources – official ones and established Mietrecht resources.
• Where possible we use the current year's values and name the year in the title.
• If a point cannot be settled beyond doubt, we say so rather than feigning certainty.

Staying current

Every guide carries a publication or update date. When the legal position changes – through a change in the law or a high-court ruling – we revise the affected guides.

Not a substitute for legal advice

Our guides provide general information and do not constitute legal advice. For a binding assessment of your individual case, consult a lawyer or a Mieterverein (tenants' association) or owners' association.