Berlin’s Tenants’ Association is advocating for a strengthening of the city’s rent control regulations, arguing that despite the existing measures, rental costs have nearly doubled over the past decade. Wibke Werner, the association’s managing director, stated in a recent interview that numerous exceptions to the current rules are undermining their effectiveness.
Werner explained that if a previous tenant had already been paying an inflated rent, landlords are not obligated to lower the price in subsequent leases. This, alongside exemptions for new constructions completed after the end of 2014 and short-term rentals, effectively removes a significant portion of the housing stock from the scope of rent control. She alleges that some landlords are falsely claiming temporary rental status to circumvent the restrictions and agree on higher rents.
The association proposes the elimination of these exceptions and increased support for tenants. Currently, the rent control law limits rent increases on new leases to a maximum of ten percent above the local comparative rent. The regulation is currently scheduled to remain in effect until the end of 2029. The organization believes stricter enforcement and broader application of the rules are essential to address rising housing costs in the city.