The district offices also work together with the tenants' association to provide advice. (Symbolic image)
© dpa
The Berlin Senate has extended the so-called Mietpreisbremse (rent cap) by four years. It will now remain in effect until the end of 2029, according to Christian Gaebler (SPD), Senator for Housing.
When re-letting an apartment, the rent may not exceed the local comparative rent by more than ten percent. Gaebler spoke of an important signal for tenants.
"The rent cap not only helps the affected tenant households, but also helps to curb the rise in rents in the city as reflected in the rent index." Anyone who suspects that an excessive rent is being charged at the start of the tenancy should contact the Senate's Mietpreisprüfstelle (Rent Control Office).
The Senate also extended the conversion ordinance by five years until the end of 2030. This prohibits the conversion of rental apartments into condominiums in buildings with five or more apartments. However, there are various exceptions. The conversion of rental apartments is a major reason for the loss of affordable housing and displacement, Gaebler explained. "As Berlin continues to have a tight housing market, it is important to continue to exert control over the conversion process."