What is the German Tenants Association (DMB)?
Thursday 22nd of May 2025
Founded in 1900 and headquartered in Berlin, the German Tenants’ Association is a federation of local and regional tenants organisations that provides legal assistance, lobbies for tenant-friendly legislation, and supports public discourse around housing justice. The DMB represents millions of members through more than 300 local branches.
The association's core services include:
- Legal Advice: Members can access legal support on issues such as rent increases, repairs, evictions, and lease disputes.
- Lobbying and Advocacy: The DMB works with federal and state governments to influence housing laws, including rent control, tenant protections, and energy efficiency standards.
- Education and Publications: It publishes tenant guides, newsletters, and research to educate both tenants and policymakers.
- Litigation and Test Cases: The DMB supports strategic litigation to clarify tenant law in courts and promote systemic change.
A National Voice for Tenants
In contrast to many systems where tenant engagement is largely local or advisory, the DMB is a national force. It is regularly consulted by German federal ministries, participates in parliamentary hearings, and has played a role in the development of major tenant protection measures – including the "Mietpreisbremse" (rent brake), which seeks to curb excessive rent increases in overheated housing markets.
The association also addresses broader social issues such as affordable housing supply, climate adaptation of housing stock, and discrimination in the rental market.
Tenant Engagement in the German Context
Germany’s rental market is structurally different from that in many other countries. Renting is the norm for a large portion of the population, including middle- and high-income households. German tenancy law is strong, offering long-term security, restrictions on evictions, and tightly regulated rent increases. In this context, tenant engagement is not just a right – it is a norm embedded in the system.
Tenant engagement in Germany takes many forms:
- Local tenant advisory boards working with municipalities.
- Direct tenant consultation in housing associations and cooperatives.
- Organised tenant protests and campaigns, often led or supported by the DMB.
- Participation in energy transition policies, where tenants have a say in renovations and sustainability efforts.
International Lessons
The DMB is a model of institutionalised tenant power, blending grassroots activism with legal expertise and political lobbying. It shows how tenants can be active participants in shaping housing systems, not just passive recipients of policy. For countries looking to strengthen tenant involvement – particularly in the context of regulatory reform – the DMB offers insights into how to build tenant capacity, integrate advocacy with service delivery, and secure tenants a seat at the policy table.
Summary
I found the German model of tenant engagement and the German Tenants' Association fascinating, unlike Britain it operates as a standalone tenant led entity unlike a more informal partnership model practiced in the UK. I found the strong established independent tenants voice something to be praised and I know has long been an ambition of many people in England. I did however think the lack of demonstrated partnership working between landlord and tenant particularly around performance monitoring something of a concern and a practice I would not want us to lose here.
If you want to see more from my interview with a representative from the German Tenants Association, you can watch here: