Jena, March 13, 2026. For tenants in the city on the Saale, living is becoming increasingly expensive. The DMB Mieterverein Jena has presented its current operating cost index based on evaluations for the year 2024, which proves a noticeable increase in service charges.
- Event: Publication of the new operating cost index
- Publisher: DMB Mieterverein Jena
- Data Basis: Evaluated statements from the year 2024
- Core Statement: Significant price increase in the incurred service charges
The ‚second rent‘ burdens households
It is not only the net cold rents that are becoming the focus of apartment searches and budget planning. According to the first insights into the evaluations of the local tenants’ association, current operating expenses in Jena continued to move upwards during the 2024 recording period. These costs, often referred to as the ‚second rent‘, include items such as waste collection, street cleaning, caretaker services, insurance, as well as water and wastewater costs.
With the publication, tenants in Jena now receive an updated and reliable instrument to compare their own annual statements with the city’s average values.
Background: The housing market in Jena
Jena is traditionally considered one of the most strained and expensive housing markets in Thüringen. The geographical basin location in the narrow Saaletal limits the large-scale expansion of residential areas. At the same time, the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, the Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule and growing high-tech companies ensure a steady influx. In almost all districts – from the large residential estates in Lobeda and Winzerla to the center – tenants are feeling the general price increases for services and craftsmen, which are directly reflected in the operating costs.
Guide for tenants: An operating cost index serves as an important benchmark. Experts advise checking the landlord’s annual operating cost statement in detail. Common sources of error include incorrectly allocated caretaker costs, calculation errors in the distribution of space, or inadmissible administrative costs that are added to the tenant. In the event of abnormalities or extreme deviations from the city average, a professional review by tenants’ associations is recommended.
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Transparency Note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.