German government promises relief for renters amid coronavirus crisis
The German government will introduce new measures to protect tenants unable to pay their rent as a result of the coronavirus crisis. Renters will not be evicted from April 1st to September 30th for failure to pay rents.
The bill will be adopted on Monday in the Federal Cabinet before being debated by the Bundestag (German Parliament) on Wednesday.
What's the latest on coronavirus in Germany and what do I need to know?
The bill is intended to provide protection to renters who are unable to meet their rent obligations due to the economic impacts of the coronavirus.
Although the time period is set to expire on the 30th of September, the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection will be permitted to extend it to July 31st, 2021, if necessary.
Despite the relief, renters who are able to pay will be required to do so during the time period.
Furthermore, the bill only suspends evictions - meaning that renters who are unable to pay will need to repay once the economic impacts of the virus start to improve.
The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) had called upon the federal government to take steps to ban evictions due to the coronavirus.
“Politicians must send a clear signal - the home must be safe”, DGB board member Stefan Koerzell told the German Press Agency.
Relief for landlords?
As yet, few indications have been given as to how landlords will be protected from the economic impacts of the coronavirus.
The DGB called upon the government to provide interest-free bridging loans for owner-occupiers and for small landlords, as well as for housing cooperatives that find themselves in economic distress as a result of the crisis.
On Saturday, the German government announced an economic aid package worth €822 billion directed at preventing companies from going under as a result of the epidemic.
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The bill will be adopted on Monday in the Federal Cabinet before being debated by the Bundestag (German Parliament) on Wednesday.
What's the latest on coronavirus in Germany and what do I need to know?
The bill is intended to provide protection to renters who are unable to meet their rent obligations due to the economic impacts of the coronavirus.
Although the time period is set to expire on the 30th of September, the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection will be permitted to extend it to July 31st, 2021, if necessary.
Despite the relief, renters who are able to pay will be required to do so during the time period.
Furthermore, the bill only suspends evictions - meaning that renters who are unable to pay will need to repay once the economic impacts of the virus start to improve.
The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) had called upon the federal government to take steps to ban evictions due to the coronavirus.
“Politicians must send a clear signal - the home must be safe”, DGB board member Stefan Koerzell told the German Press Agency.
Relief for landlords?
As yet, few indications have been given as to how landlords will be protected from the economic impacts of the coronavirus.
The DGB called upon the government to provide interest-free bridging loans for owner-occupiers and for small landlords, as well as for housing cooperatives that find themselves in economic distress as a result of the crisis.
On Saturday, the German government announced an economic aid package worth €822 billion directed at preventing companies from going under as a result of the epidemic.
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