Know your rights! Tenant's association & The division of Germany

Welcome back another Wednesday to ReloBerlin!

 

It has been a while, but now that the fall is officially here is time we get back on track!

 

As we are now in our 2nd season, I want to dig deeper in that reality check you need to make sure you know your rights as a tenant.

 

Today my main focus is reminding you that you are either paying 

• TOO MUCH RENT

Soon you will find a post in our Instagram account @reloberlin regarding the 2 types of rent reduction:

1. Mietendeckel
2. Mietpreisbremse

Stay tuned if you want to know if you can apply to them to lower your rent without 3rd parties which will still mean you paying a high commission!

• And that the issues in your flat could be fixed, even if your landlord does not seem too keen on cooperating. Thank you for listening

 

But I have no savings and I speak 0 German. Can I still do this?!

ABSOLUTELY! But is NOT going to be easy

There are tenant associations that include lawyer consultations in your membership

Please note that the content of this podcast has no legal validity, so I recommend you choosing between the following tenant association options:

• The Good: 
  https://mieterengel.de/
  Price starts at 89€ per year. 

• • Advantages:
    • They answer within 48 hours by phone or by email in written form.
    • They do a thorough review of the contract giving us details of the different clauses.
    • Options with Mietrecht Schutzbund with Allianz (this is useful in case there are future problems with the landlord and you have to go to court, as often happens with the lowering of rental prices).
  • Cons:
    • Everything is in German, but written correspondence is easier because there is the fantastic Deepl.

 

• The Ugly: 

https://www.berliner-mieterverein.de/ 

Price starts at 9€ per month for a basic consulting service. 

• • Advantages:
    • There are several offices in different locations in Berlin. So there are more possibilities to arrange a quick appointment.
  • Cons:
    • Everything is in German, but the written correspondence is easier because there is the fantastic Deepl.
    • Waiting list is a minimum of about two weeks or about 45€ per month with an extra 7.50€ for specific inquiries (make more extra costs depending on what).
      It does not include any legal insurance, so it is very basic
    • 108 per year for more detailed consultations (such as the review of a rental contract)

 

• The Bad: 

https://www.mieterhilfeverein.de/ 

• Prices
  • Standard contract for 69,40 € per year + registration fee for 33,60 € + 11 € for each service letter or consultation
  • Premium contract: Annual contract for 117,62 € ( 69,40 of the annual fee z 48,22 of Mietrechtsschutz or legal tenant insurance) + registration fee for 33,60 € + 11€ for each letter they send for consultation.
• Cons:
  • Everything is in German, but written correspondence is easier because there is the fantastic Deepl.
  • The waiting list is several weeks long, which does not pay off if we want to review the contract as soon as possible.
  • There is no option for telephone or written consultations.

 

Personally, I recommend the first because of the speed of response they promise. But of course, each case is very particular.

 

On another note... ;)

• You can discover the story of the division of Germany and Berlin with "the three Allies" by booking the tour  "Escaping Berlin's Wall" by DM on instagram @ungatoconpasaporte 

 

I hope you have enjoyed this episode and I wish you a lovely summer!

 

I would love to know if you found this helpful and if you like the storytelling at the end of each episode. If so, leave a 5-star review and/or email me at [email protected] ;) or in any of my following social media

 

If you have any doubts or questions, do not hesitate to write me ;) and if you want to keep in touch and get many more tips, follow me on Instagram:

• https://www.instagram.com/reloberlin

And if you want more, in Spanish, or you are curious about my tours in Berlin, join me at

• https://www.instagram.com/ungatoconpasaporte

•  More at www.ungatoconpasaporte.com 

 

 

Stay curious! ;)

 

Until 2 Wednesdays!