That's true, though the only protection for new tenants is rent control (the type where rents can't exceed a reference rent by ~10%), which is active in most ci

That's true, though the only protection for new tenants is rent control (the type where rents can't exceed a reference rent by ~10%), which is active in most cities - but is also generally ignored (~80 % of new leases violate these laws). New construction, modernized (also "modernized") and first-time-leased flats are excluded as well, and if the previous tenant overpaid, rent control is suspended as well.