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My landlord raised the rent by 18%. Is that allowed?
Tenancy law · residential§ 558 BGB · rent capGermany
Answer
In Germany the rent cap under § 558(3) BGB limits any rent increase to a maximum of 20% (15% in tense markets) within three years. 18% may be admissible — it depends on the prior rent, comparable values, and the cap set by your municipality.
Sources:§ 558 BGBMietspiegelV
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For consumers
Notices, demands, tenancy issues, terminations — you upload and instruct the tool, and you decide what happens next.
- Traffic ticket & fineUpload a photo of the notice, the AI checks form, deadline and prospects of success – objection letter in under 5 minutes.
- Reminder & payment orderIs the claim justified? The AI checks limitation, amount and legal basis – plus a suitable reply or objection (Widerspruch).
- Terminate a tenancyTermination letter with the correct notice period, address and request for confirmation – as a PDF in 2 minutes.
- Rent reductionDefect notice, deadline for remedy and rent reduction letter with concrete reduction rates from case law.
- Rent increaseForm, justification, capping limit and your consent deadline – checked in plain language, with a ready-made reply letter.
- Received a terminationJob or flat: check form, notice period and grounds. Deadline for bringing an action in employment law: 3 weeks.
- Review an NDAContractual penalty, term, IP clauses, severability clause – a risk heat map at a glance.
- Online withdrawal14-day withdrawal period – we draft the appropriate withdrawal letter with the correct return logic.
- GDPR access requestWhat does a company store about me? Standard request with a deadline, escalation to the supervisory authority.
- Debt collection letterIs the principal claim justified? Are the collection fees permissible? We separate the wheat from the chaff – with a ready-made reply.
- Competition law warningDo not sign blindly: our AI tools check the cease-and-desist declaration (Unterlassungserklärung) and draft a modified version.
- File-sharing/photo warningCheck the value in dispute, a modified cease-and-desist declaration, negotiate damages realistically.
- Received a formal warningCheck whether it is justified, write a counterstatement or demand its removal from your personnel file.
- Write an employee warningA warning with specificity, warning function and a threat of dismissal — as a draft that you review before sending.
- Travel & flight problemsRegulation (EC) 261/2004 for flights, package travel law for hotels: we calculate your claims and write the claim letter.
- Service charge statementAllocation key, advance payments, recoverable costs – uncover common errors.
- Dismissed from your job3-week deadline for bringing an action (§ 4 KSchG) from receipt. Our AI tools check, and we refer you directly to a specialist lawyer.
- Insurer refuses to payCheck the reasons for the refusal against the policy terms – with a letter of objection.
- Defective orderDefect after delivery? 2-year statutory warranty. We draft the right letter.
- Review an employment contractA new job in sight? Check what your employment contract says before you sign.
- Review a tenancy agreementFound a flat? Check the tenancy agreement before you sign.
- Review a mobile phone contractTerm, price rise, throttling: check what your mobile contract really contains.
- Review a gym contractTerm, renewal, fee increase: check your gym contract before it binds you.
- Received a lawyer's letterA letter of demand, warning letter, cease-and-desist declaration or damages claim from a law firm? Our AI tools check how promising your defense is — before you sign anything.
- Understand your lawyer's letterYour law firm has sent you a pleading (Schriftsatz) and you want to understand what it means for you — without legal jargon and without working against your lawyer?
- Maintenance: request for informationReceived a lawyer's letter requesting information about your income? We explain what is mandatory, what is not — and which deadlines apply.
- Youth welfare office: understand the letterInvitation, request for a statement, care planning meeting? We explain in plain language what lies behind the letter — and what is actually mandatory.
- Divorce petition servedInitial orientation on the course of proceedings, mandatory legal representation and ancillary matters. A divorce without a lawyer is not possible.
- Review a contact agreementUnderstand what you are committing to before you sign — weekends, holidays, handovers, costs.
- Jobcenter decision (SGB II)Citizen's income (Bürgergeld) too low, a sanction, a repayment demand? Our AI tools check the information on legal remedies, the needs calculation and the deadline — objection in minutes.
- Employment agency (ALG I, blocking period)Blocking period after resigning? Wrong entitlement period? Our AI tools check the assessment, the reason for the blocking period and the instructions on legal remedies.
- Social welfare office notice (SGB XII)Benefits too low or refused? Our AI tools check the recognition of needs, the offsetting of income and the instructions on legal remedies.
- Health insurer: refusalApplication refused? Our AI tools check the reasons, the Medical Service (MD) report and the deadline — objection (Widerspruch) within the deadline.
- Pension notice (DRV)Are the insurance periods, earnings points and deductions correct? Our AI tools check the insurance record and the calculation.
- Request to cooperate (SGB)An authority is requesting documents by a deadline? We help with an objectively reasoned reply that meets the deadline.
- Hearing before revocation/repaymentAn authority wants to revoke a decision and reclaim money? Before the decision is issued you have a right to be heard — decisive for your defense.
- Check a tax assessmentDoes the assessment differ from your return? Our AI tools check discrepancies, the information on remedies (§ 356 AO) and the deadline — objection in minutes.
- Tax office decision on objectionObjection rejected? The 1-month deadline for an action before the tax court (Finanzgericht) is now running — orientation & referral to a lawyer.
- Administrative notice (housing benefit, BAföG, etc.)An authority's notice refused your application or awarded too little? Our AI tools check the instructions on legal remedies, the calculation and the deadline — objection (Widerspruch) within the deadline.
- Hearing before an administrative actAn authority announces an adverse decision? The hearing under § 28 VwVfG is the best opportunity to defend yourself before the decision is issued.
- Calculate severance paySeverance rule of thumb under §1a KSchG (0.5 × gross salary × years). With risk notes on the unemployment benefit (ALG I) suspension period and tax (one-fifth rule).
- Review a termination agreementALG I blocking period, amount of severance pay, turbo/sprinter clause, non-compete clause, settlement clause — AI review of your termination agreement in minutes.
- Check a job referenceUnderstand your reference? Upload it — we decode the hidden code, determine the grade and draft your claim for correction.
- Check a child benefit noticeThe Familienkasse refused or reclaimed money? Deadline: 1 month. Our AI tools check the notice and draft the objection in minutes.
- Claim default interestInvoice overdue? No lawyer needed: we calculate default interest to the day and draft the payment reminder with all consequences of default.
- Claim your compulsory shareDisinherited or left less than your compulsory share? Our AI tools check the will and the order of succession, calculate your share and draft the letter to the heirs.
- Draw up a willDraw up a will without risking formal errors: we structure the appointment of heirs, substitute heirs and the burden of compulsory shares — you write the fair copy by hand.
- Create a lasting power of attorneyWithout a lasting power of attorney (Vorsorgevollmacht), in an emergency the guardianship court decides on a stranger. We help you word the power of attorney, the guardianship directive and the advance directive in concrete and effective terms.
- Fine noticeAccused of a regulatory offense? At 2 weeks, the objection period is considerably shorter than for most other official decisions.
- Check T&C clausesExclusion of liability, notice period, automatic contract renewal — not every clause in standard terms and conditions is valid.
- Health insurer refusesTherapy, medical aid or rehabilitation refused? Often the insurer has missed its own response deadline — in which case the benefit is already deemed approved.
- Care level objectionThe long-term care insurer almost always follows the assessment of the Medical Service — if you object, you should check it module by module.
- Road traffic accidentAfter an accident, the other party’s insurer often settles too little — complete heads of damage and the correct liability ratio are worth a close look.
- File a criminal complaintReporting a criminal offense — for certain offenses, a time-limited request for prosecution is also required.
- Used car defectSince the 2022 sales law reform: if a defect appears within one year, it is presumed to have existed at the time of purchase.
- Telecoms billUnclear items, roaming charges or an unwanted contract extension — the deadline for disputing a bill is 8 weeks.
- Reclaim rental depositAfter you move out, the landlord has a reasonable period to settle accounts — after that, the deposit plus interest is due.
- Tradesperson defectsThe work has not turned out as agreed — and now the invoice and the acceptance record are on the table. What you sign determines your rights.
- Building permit refusedA refusal notice (Ablehnungsbescheid) is not the end — but the clock is running. In most federal states you have one month.
For influencers & creators
Brand deals, agency contracts, licensing — know what you sign before you sign.
- Influencer cooperation agreementA brand deal on the table? Upload the agreement — we explain the buy-out, exclusivity, contractual penalty and labeling obligation in plain language.
- Management/agency agreementAn agency wants to sign you? Our AI tools check the term, commission (including after termination), exclusivity and termination rights.
- OnlyFans managementAn agency wants to manage your OnlyFans/Fansly account? Our AI tools check age verification, model release, chatter NDA, commission, post-term provisions and platform power of attorney.
For SMBs & agencies
NDA, terms, DPA, commercial lease, cease-and-desist — review contracts before they become problems.
- Check a B2B NDAReceived an NDA from a business partner? Our AI tools check the penalty, term, scope and place of jurisdiction — before you sign.
- Supplier termsNew supplier, thick annex of terms and conditions? Our AI tools check the most important risk clauses before you conclude the framework agreement.
- Commercial leaseLooking at new commercial premises? Our AI tools check the clauses that will bind you for 5–10 years.
- Employment contract (employer)Planning to hire? Our AI tools check your employment contract template against the standard-terms review (AGB-Kontrolle), case law of the Federal Labor Court (BAG) and costly pitfalls.
- Check a DPASaaS contract with a DPA attached? Our AI tools check TOMs, sub-processors, third-country transfers and audit rights against Art. 28 DSGVO.
- UWG / trade mark warningWarning letter from a competitor or trade mark owner? Our AI tools check whether it is justified, propose a modified cease-and-desist declaration (Unterlassungserklärung) and assess the contractual penalty and the amount in dispute.
- Contribution notice (DRV)After a DRV payroll audit, a demand for back contributions may follow — often because of alleged false self-employment. The objection does NOT automatically suspend payment.
- Tax auditThe audit order itself is a contestable administrative act — a successful objection can secure a prohibition on using the audit findings.
- GDPR fine (company)Unlike an administrative decision, the law on regulatory offenses applies here — the objection deadline is only 2 weeks, not 1 month.
- Business prohibitionUsually because of tax or contribution arrears — if you can prove that the arrears have been paid off, this often removes the basis for the prohibition.
- Liability noticeThe tax office must give reasons for two discretionary decisions: whether anyone is held liable at all, and which of several responsible persons.
- Grant repayment demandAfter reviewing the proof of use, the authority often demands repayment of funding — protection of legitimate expectations and deadlines limit this.
- Subcontractor not deliveringThe site is at a standstill, the subcontractor does not respond — and your own client is waiting. Before you instruct another firm, a deadline determines who bears the costs.
- Change order disputedThe client wanted it done this way — but does not want to pay for it. Whether you enforce the change order (Nachtrag) is usually decided by two formalities, not by the price.
- Check your own documentYou wrote it yourself — and now it is going out. The outgoing check reads your document through the eyes of the other side: what is missing, what contradicts itself, what was never filled in?
For freelancers & self-employed
Service agreements, work contracts, license clauses — we show where it can get expensive.
- Freelancer service agreementNew client, new agreement? Our AI tools check false self-employment, rights of use, liability and non-compete clauses — in plain language.
- Order canceledProject stopped, invoice unpaid? If the client terminates a contract for work (Werkvertrag) without good cause, you do not lose your fee.
- Acceptance refusedEverything delivered, the client is silent — and without acceptance your fee does not fall due. There is a procedure against this.
For creatives & artists
License deals, buy-out, adaptation rights — fair deal or selling your work short?
- License/rights of use agreementA publisher, studio or client wants to use your work? Our AI tools check whether it is a fair license or a complete sell-out.
- Use beyond the licenseLicensed for the website, now on posters? Whatever the contract does not expressly state is, in case of doubt, not granted.
- Game publishing agreementPublisher agreement on the table? We show where IP, sequel rights and royalties slip away — and deliver a redline version with a negotiation sheet.
- Publishing agreement (book)A publisher wants your manuscript? Our AI tools review royalties, subsidiary rights, the obligation to publish and AI clauses — and deliver a redline version that you can send back to the publisher.
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Smart Legal Pro provides AI-assisted legal information — not legal advice from a lawyer. The content is generated by artificial intelligence and may contain errors. For binding advice, please contact a lawyer.
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