Germany BMJ Press

Rent Index Capped at 3.5%, Tenant Protections Strengthened

The German Federal Ministry of Justice has published a draft law (Gesetzentwurf) to reform residential tenancy law. The proposed legislation would cap annual index rent increases at 3.5 percent and introduce transparency requirements for furniture supplements. To prevent circumvention of the rent brake, a maximum limit for short-term rental contracts would apply. Tenant protections against housing loss would be strengthened by allowing rent arrears repayments to render ordinary terminations ineffective once.

Germany Modernizes Product Liability Law for Software and AI

The German Bundestag has passed legislation modernizing product liability law to explicitly cover software and AI systems. The update extends traditional product liability rules to digital products, addressing a gap in consumer protection for software defects and AI-related harm. The new framework creates explicit obligations for manufacturers and sellers of digital products regarding safety and defect liability.

Germany Proposes Law Against Digital Violence

The German Federal Ministry of Justice (BMJV) has published a draft law to strengthen civil and criminal law protection against digital violence (Gesetzentwurf gegen digitale Gewalt). The proposal aims to close legal gaps where current criminal law does not adequately address forms of digital violence such as digital voyeurism and deepfakes. Women are identified as particularly affected by digital violence. The draft law intends to provide better protection for victims and enable them to defend themselves more effectively.