Qualified rent index 2020 - valid from 1 January
The qualified rent index 2020 will apply in the city of Chemnitz from 1 January.
In order to maintain the qualification rating, the qualified rent index of the city of Chemnitz, which has been valid since 1 January 2018, was updated two years after its creation.
The rent index was adjusted based on the development of the cost of living index for all private households in Germany (new name: consumer price index for Germany) by the working group commissioned by Chemnitz City Council. The working group includes representatives of the interests of Chemnitz tenants, the Chemnitz housing industry, private landlords, representatives of the City of Chemnitz and, in an advisory capacity, the Chemnitz District Court. The underlying price index is published regularly by the Federal Statistical Office.
Just like a newly created rent index, its adjustment must also be formally recognised either by the tenants' and landlords' representatives or by the city council.
The written approvals were carried out by the relevant associations and organisations that represent the interests of Chemnitz tenants or that were able to carry out the approval on behalf of the organised Chemnitz housing industry and private landlords.
With its adjustment now formally recognised, the Chemnitz rent index will retain its qualified rating in its adjusted form from 1 January 2020 for a further two years, until 31 December 2021, after which a new rent index will be produced.
The qualified rent index sets out the comparative rents for rented accommodation in Chemnitz. Section 558d of the German Civil Code forms the legal basis for the possibility of creating such a rent index, the framework conditions applicable to it, the principles for its creation, the conditions for its applicability in the event of rent changes and its significance in connection with legal proceedings in rental disputes.
The qualified rent index is particularly important in rent increase disputes to be settled in court. For this reason, the legislator places special requirements on the preparation of a rent index that can be labelled as qualified. This also means that once a qualified rent index has been drawn up, it must be adjusted to market developments after two years at the latest. It must be revised after four years at the latest.
The qualified rent index 2020 is now available to download free of charge at www.chemnitz.de/mietspiegel .
It is also possible to purchase the new rent index brochure from all citizen service centres for a fee of 5 euros.