WHAT IS A ZINSHAUS?
A Zinshaus is an apartment building let as an investment. The term comes from the old German word „Mietzins“, meaning rent. The owner usually does not live in the building but earns income from the rents.
EXAMPLE.
Typical examples are Gründerzeit buildings from around 1900 with six to twenty apartments, often with shops on the ground floor. Buyers compare them using the purchase price multiplier (Kaufpreisfaktor). In Berlin, it was 18 to 20 times annual net cold rent for existing residential property in 2025, in Düsseldorf 18 to 21. Source: AENGEVELT City Reports 2026/2027.
WHY IT MATTERS.
Selling a Zinshaus mainly means selling an income stream. Tenant structure, rent level compared with the market and state of refurbishment determine the price.
RELATED TERMS.
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German version: Zinshaus.
As of November 2026, AENGEVELT Research.