Berlin’s tenant association is calling for stricter enforcement and potential amendments to the city’s rent control regulations, known as the “Mietpreisbremse”. According to Wibke Werner, the association’s managing director, average rents in Berlin have nearly doubled over the past decade despite the existing controls.
Werner stated that numerous loopholes and exceptions are undermining the effectiveness of the Mietpreisbremse. She explained that if the previous tenant was already paying an inflated rent, landlords are not required to lower it for subsequent tenants, effectively exempting those properties from the regulations. Additionally, new constructions completed after the end of 2014 and short-term rentals are also excluded.
Werner alleges that some landlords are falsely claiming temporary rental status to circumvent the price controls and negotiate higher rents.
The tenant association is advocating for the removal of these exemptions and increased support for renters. The Mietpreisbremse currently limits rent increases on new leases to a maximum of ten percent above the local comparative rent and is set to remain in effect until the end of 2029. The association believes stronger regulations are needed to address affordability challenges within the city.
