Senate to freeze rents of state-owned real estate objects until end of 2023

Housing Senator Andreas Geisel wants to extend the moratorium on terminations by the municipal housing companies to the whole of 2023 and also rule out rent increases for that time period.

Geisel announced on Thursday that he had proposed this to Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD) and that shee agreed to the proposal. The Senate had decided in September as part of a relief package that, for a limited time, tenants could not be terminated due to payment arrears. This regulation was put in price to provide relief in a time when energy prices are soaring. It was initially to apply for six months.

Around 700,000 tenants affected

According to Geisel, the regulation applies to 360,000 apartments throughout Berlin and affects 700,000 tenants. Commercial tenants are also to benefit. The SPD politician called the Senate's decision exemplary throughout Germany. The state will provide the necessary funds to help tenants in emergencies. The decision has so far been limited to the six state-owned companies such as Degewo and Howoge plus Berlinovo Immobilien GmbH, which is also state-owned.