Housing in Berlin: Senate publishes frightening numbers!

Housing in Berlin: Senate publishes frightening numbers!

The rental situation in Berlin is increasingly tense, which poses many residents with great challenges. According to a current report by Berlin Live, there is a significant problem in the illegal misuse of living space, which not only leads to a decline in the available apartments, but also tightens the situation for tenants. The Senate has published alarming numbers: Since 2016, only 27,588 apartments that were previously misused have been able to be brought back to the housing market. Over 2,000 apartments have already been brought back this year, with Tempelhof-Schöneberg being the most affected district, followed by Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf and Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg.

Legal measures to combat the misuse

In a response from the Senate to a request from the MP Niklas Schenker from the left, it becomes clear that the existing ban on misuse, which has been in force since 2014, does not have sufficient effect. The recording and control of the misused apartments remains a central challenge. In order to react to this in the future, the Senate has updated the misuse of alienation law. With this law, replacement living space is to be created and the rental under appropriate conditions is to be made possible in order to relieve the housing market. In addition, main apartments can be rented as holiday apartments during the absence, as long as the character is not affected as a main apartment, as is explained on urban development.berlin.de.

This measure should not only increase the number of available apartments, but also ensure that the remaining living space is offered at reasonable prices. Approval is required to rent a property as a holiday apartment, while renting a room in your own apartment is possible under certain conditions without permission. These new regulations aim to better control the dynamic changes on the Berlin housing market and to meet the needs of the tenants.