© RTL
According to tenant protection NGO Mieterschutz, Luxembourg is not well enough informed about when and how a rental agreement can be terminated.
The association advises affected tenants and landlords to research, in advance, the legal implications of the contracts they enter, preferably with the help of a lawyer. It would also be important to know whether one could request a reprieve to delay the termination of the contract.
It could be the case that the building caretaker has to intervene to remove tenants from an apartment. However, in 95 out of 100 cases, landlords and tenants reach a mutual agreement during the procedure, says the president of the Landlords Union (UDP). Georges Krieger also puts to rest any claims that there is a surge in cases where tenants are forced to leave.
According to a survey commissioned by NGO Mieterschutz however, more than 95% of tenants cite their biggest fear as having to leave their home unexpectedly and ending up without a roof over their heads.
The law provides for 3 specific cases that justify the termination of a rental agreement. These can be read online on the government's housing website.
"Personal need for the property for themselves or for a relative or relative up to the 3rd degree of kinship; Non-compliance with obligations by the tenant (e.g. non-payment of rent, damage to the premises); Other serious and legitimate reasons to be established by the lessor (e.g. the need to carry out major works, making it impossible for the tenant to remain in the rented premises)."
For construction work, a notice period of just three months is foreseen. According to the tenant protection association, this is far too short, particularly given the fact that it is becoming increasingly difficult to find housing on the rental market in Luxembourg today.
According to lawyer Georges Krieger, the issue is not so much the rental prices themselves but rather the additional utility bills. Bills have skyrocketed, especially in new buildings equipped with numerous modern technologies.
Krieger also believes that the government is currently not doing enough to incentivise homeowners to rent out their second or third residences. This, in turn, is contributing to rising rental prices. This unfortunately forces many people to search for cheaper housing across the border according to Mieterschutz President Jean-Michel Campanella.
Unlike France, there is no so-called 'winter truce' in Luxembourg, which would prevent tenants from being evicted during the winter months. However, Georges Krieger argues that such measures are not necessary.
In Luxembourg as municipalities and other organisations make sure that alternative housing is arranged for affected tenants. For Krieger at least, this means that tenants in Luxembourg are fairly well protected in cases where a rental contract termination is imminent.
