File photo
© dpa
Berlin residents who believe they are paying an excessive rent can report this to the relevant district office online.
This can be done via the official Berlin Service Portal, according to the Senate Department for Urban Development, Construction and Housing (Website in German). The new service simplifies and speeds up the process. The ability to report excessive rent online is another building block for strong tenant protection, said Senator for Construction Christian Gaebler (SPD).
As a general rule, it is recommended that you first check what the local comparative rent is for the apartment in question. You can do this using the Berlin Rent Index. A corresponding search service is also available online (Website in German). If the rent is more than 20 percent higher than the local comparative rent, you can report this to the district office for review. Such an excessive rent constitutes an administrative offense.
Under certain circumstances, this can result in a fine. According to the Urban Development Administration, the tenant may also request a refund of the excess rent paid. If the rent exceeds the legal limit by more than 50 percent, there is suspicion of so-called "exorbitant rents," which may constitute a criminal offense. Once the digital report is received, the district office contacts the tenant and clarifies with them whether there has been an excessive rent increase. In this context, the district office may request additional information and documentation. If the review confirms initial suspicions, the district office may, for example, initiate administrative proceedings.
The Rent Review Office, established by the Berlin Senate in March 2025, has repeatedly identified cases of excessive rents, some of which were significantly higher than the local comparative rent. The Rent Review Office is also a potential point of contact for tenants. It offers the option of receiving advice over the phone or in a face-to-face meeting.