Mietspiegel
Official Rent Index. The municipal reference table of local comparative rents (ortsübliche Vergleichsmiete) by location, size, age and quality. It anchors rent increases and the Mietpreisbremse.
Cities over 100,000 residents must maintain one; 'qualified' Mietspiegel (statistically derived, § 558d BGB) carry legal presumption. Existing-tenancy increases must be justified against it and respect the Kappungsgrenze.
Investor lens: the gap between Mietspiegel level and market asking rents shows the reversion potential in a city: large gaps (e.g. Bochum 6.90 vs 8.28 €/m², Augsburg 9.80 vs ~15 €/m² asking, 2025/26) mean regulated in-place rents have room to grow, or that regulation binds hard on re-letting where the Mietpreisbremse applies.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Mietspiegel?
The municipal reference table of local comparative rents, broken down by location, size, age and quality. It anchors permitted rent increases and the calculation under the rent brake.
Is the Mietspiegel binding?
A qualified Mietspiegel produced to statutory standards carries strong evidential weight in disputes and is the practical reference point for rent increases and for the rent brake. Not every municipality has one.
Does the Mietspiegel use cold or warm rent?
Net cold rent per square metre, excluding operating costs and heating.
How do I find the Mietspiegel for a German city?
It is published by the municipality itself, usually through the city's housing or statistics department. Large cities update it every two years.