Rent subsidy: housing benefit for rented living space
As of: August 2026
A rent subsidy (Mietzuschuss) is housing benefit (Wohngeld) for households that rent living space and bear the rent themselves. That applies to a head tenancy and usually to a subtenancy. What is countable is the gross cold rent up to the maximum for Mietenstufe VI, plus the heating-cost and climate components. Income, assets and household size follow the same rules as for an owner subsidy. Anyone who occupies their own property does not apply for a rent subsidy, but for an owner subsidy.
Type of benefit by form of housing
The Housing Benefit Act knows two types of benefit. Tenants receive a rent subsidy, owner-occupiers an owner subsidy (Lastenzuschuss). The formula, the allowances and the exclusions are the same; only which housing costs enter the calculation differs.
Whether a claim exists in principle is first clarified by the eligibility rules. The amount follows the three factors under Amount.
Who can apply for a rent subsidy
You may apply if you rent living space in Frankfurt am Main, occupy it yourself and bear the rent. That covers head tenancies and typical subtenancies if there is an own, delimitable share of the rent.
- Head tenants of a flat or a house
- Subtenants with their own contract and their own payment route
- Shared flats, insofar as each person forms their own household with their own share
- Households in publicly supported housing, unless a priority exclusion applies
Which rent enters the calculation
What matters is the gross cold rent: agreed basic rent plus cold service charges. Heating, hot water, electricity and a parking space stay outside. If the cold rent exceeds the maximum for level VI, only the maximum counts.
The heating-cost and climate components are added; they are not inside the basic values in Annex 1. See Heating costs and Maximum amounts.
Subtenancy and shared flat
In a subtenancy the cold-rent share paid to the head tenant counts, not automatically the total rent of the head contract. In a shared flat with separate finances each person often submits their own application for their own share.
If couples or families share the same contract and the same budget, a joint household is likely. The boundary is under Household members. An overview of life situations is under Who it is for.
When a rent subsidy falls away
The rent subsidy ends if a priority benefit already covers the housing costs – in particular Bürgergeld or basic income support with housing costs. Single students and trainees are often excluded if BAföG or BAB is available in principle.
Details: Bürgergeld, BAföG, Transfer benefits. Substantial assets block independently of the type of rent.
Documents and how to apply
A rent subsidy includes the tenancy agreement, proof of recent rent payments and a recognisable split into cold rent and other items. Income and identity evidence of all household members is added. The filterable list is under Documents.
The Housing Office (Amt für Wohnungswesen), Adickesallee 67–69, 60322 Frankfurt am Main, is responsible for dwellings in Frankfurt am Main. The route is described in the application, first access in the first application.
After the award
A rent increase changes countable rent only when it has taken effect and – if needed – is reported or shown in a new application. Before the award period ends a renewal is required.
Anyone who switches from renting to owner-occupied property switches the type of benefit to an owner subsidy. The three factors of the calculation remain the same. Terms are collected in the Glossary.
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