Reminder campaign - rent index survey of tenants and landlords in Hof

In Hof, randomly selected tenants and landlords were contacted in January 2024 as part of the survey for the creation of the new qualified rent index.

Those who have not yet found the time to answer the questions will receive a reminder letter at the beginning of February asking them to take part in the survey.

Mandatory participation

All tenants and landlords contacted have until March 2, 2024 at the latest to answer the questions so that the rent index can be compiled promptly.

The survey for the rent index is mandatory in accordance with Art. 238 of the Introductory Act to the German Civil Code. The tenants and landlords contacted must provide information in the survey; this is necessary for the quality of the results. Refusal to participate can result in fines of up to 5,000 euros.

What is the significance of a rent index?

The rent index is compiled together with the tenants' association Hof und Umgebung e.V. and the house and landowners' association Hof/Saale e.V., which expressly support the survey. The rent index reform, which has been in force since July 2022, stipulates an obligation to provide information in the surveys for the creation of qualified rent indices.

A qualified rent index was last published in Hof in June 2020 and adjusted to price developments in June 2022. A qualified rent index provides an objective overview of the current rent level in the privately financed housing market. It indicates the so-called local comparative rent that is paid for comparable apartments and houses. It therefore serves the interests of both tenants and landlords. It is also an important source of information for interested parties from outside the area.

The ALP Institut für Wohnen und Stadtentwicklung GmbH, Hamburg, was commissioned to compile the new qualified rent index for the city of Hof. In Hof, 5000 apartments were contacted for this purpose.

Based on the data from the qualified rent index, ALP will also determine the new adequacy limits for the cost of accommodation for recipients of benefits under SGB II (citizen's allowance) and SGB XII (assistance with living expenses and basic security).

Both the qualified rent index and the new adequacy limits for accommodation costs are expected to come into force on June 1, 2024.