Document background
The Lease Increase Letter (Mieterhöhungsverlangen) is a crucial document in German property law, used when landlords wish to increase rent within the parameters allowed by German legislation. It must be used whenever a landlord seeks to raise rent up to the local comparative rent level (ortsübliche Vergleichsmiete) under BGB § 558. The document serves multiple purposes: it formally notifies the tenant of the proposed increase, provides legally required justification, and initiates the statutory period during which the tenant must consider the increase. The letter must be carefully drafted to comply with strict German legal requirements, including references to the local rent index or comparable properties, and must respect rent control regulations (Mietpreisbremse) where applicable. This document is particularly relevant in Germany's regulated rental market, where rent increases must follow specific legal procedures and limitations.
