First municipal dormitory for apprentices

The first municipal dormitory for apprentices has been handed over in Berlin.

Starting in August, 154 apprentices will move into the new building with furnished apartments on Storkower Straße in Lichtenberg, according to the Senate Department of Labor. Their monthly rent is 340 euros, including heat, electricity and utilities. That amounts to about one-third of the average apprenticeship stipend.

Over 1,000 applications received

The trainees live in the residence in two-person shared apartments. There are also common areas such as a lounge, a rooftop terrace, a bicycle repair shop and a laundry facility. According to the employment agency, approximately 1,200 applications were received for the apartments. As a result, 70 percent of the spots will be allocated through a lottery. The remaining 30 percent of spots go to people in particularly difficult circumstances, such as those who have been living in precarious housing situations or who earn only a low income.

More dormitories for trainees planned

The dormitory is owned by Berlinovo, a state-owned housing authority. The state leases the apartments through a nonprofit organization. Under this model, an additional 100 to 150 housing units for apprentices are planned for 2027. At the same time, Berlin is preparing to build its own dormitory for apprentices with 150 units. "We must offer apprentices good living conditions in our city if we want to attract them as the skilled workers of tomorrow," explained Senator for Labor Cansel Kiziltepe (SPD). "Apprentices cannot afford shared rooms for 600 euros or more." She added that a young person's ability to live comfortably should not depend on their parents' financial means.