New guideline values for rents for households receiving citizen's income and social assistance in 2025
The social affairs department has recalculated the guidelines for reasonable rent levels in households receiving basic income support and social assistance. There are only minor changes compared to the previous guidelines. However, the guidelines for large households with six or more people have been significantly increased. The Senate has taken note of the corresponding amendment to the relevant directive following a submission by Senator Dr. Claudia Schilling.
Noticeable changes for large families
For a one-person household with up to 50 square meters of living space, the social services office and the job center can now recognize up to €539 as appropriate gross rent (excluding utilities). This is €2 more than before. For two-person households with living space up to 60 square meters, the amount increases by €3 to €563.
Even for households with three to five people, the figures will increase by a small single-digit percentage. Significantly higher gross rents (excluding utilities) are only permitted for households with six or more people. The standard rate rises from €1,074 to €1,182 for apartments larger than 95 square meters.
The guideline values are based on expert reports
The new guidelines are based on an expert report by InWIS Forschung & Beratung GmbH in Bochum. For the first time, a qualified rent index is used as the basis – an instrument for comparing rent levels, which was introduced for Bremen in 2024.
Private landlords are included in the calculation
Unlike previous calculations of the benchmark rents, this new method incorporates significantly more data from privately rented apartments. These constitute the largest share of the housing market in the city. Before the introduction of the rent index, private landlords were not obligated to provide information; therefore, their rents were underrepresented and their weighting in the calculations was adjusted accordingly.
| Apartment size | Size of the household | Previous benchmark values | new | absolute change | in % |
| up to 50 square meters | 1 person | 537 | 539 | + 2 € | + 0,4 |
| over 50 sqm to 60 sqm | 2 people | 560 | 563 | + 3 € | + 0,5 |
| over 60 sqm to 75 sqm | 3 people | 696 | 696 | 0 € | 0 |
| over 75 sqm to 85 sqm | 4 people | 789 | 791 | + 2 € | + 0,3 |
| over 85 sqm to 95 sqm | 5 people | 973 | 974 | + 1 € | + 0,1 |
| over 95 sqm | 6 people | 1074 | 1182 | + 108 € | + 10,4 |
| every additional 10 square meters | each additional person | 101 | 108 | + 7 € | + 6,9 |
No surcharges for the "location surcharge"
Unlike previous guidelines, no additional allowances will be granted in the future for apartments in city districts and neighborhoods where comparatively few recipients of transfer payments live ("location allowance").
Not compatible with decisions of the Federal Social Court
According to previous guidelines, Bremen's social services authorities had granted such location-based allowances in these areas to promote social diversity and the mixing of social groups within the neighborhood. However, allowances of this kind are incompatible with rulings by the Federal Social Court.
The entire city of Bremen must therefore be considered a single point of comparison for determining rent levels. Otherwise, the entire guideline for the recognition of rent levels would be invalid. This also corresponds to the jurisprudence of the social courts in Bremen. However, under the existing tenancy protection provisions, previously paid location-based supplements will continue to be granted in existing tenancies.
Source: Press Office of the Senate of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, The Senator for Labour, Social Affairs, Youth and Integration, Press Release , 18 March 2025