Senate warns of false rent index surveyors

According to the Senate, the fraudsters are presumably after personal data. (symbolic image)

The Berlin Senate is warning against fraudsters ringing doorbells and pretending to be interviewers for the rent index. According to a statement from the Senate Department for Urban Development, Building and Housing, the scammers are presumably trying to obtain personal data. 

Surveys for the Berlin rent index (German: Mietspiegel) are currently underway. Randomly selected tenants were contacted by post for the first time at the end of August. Participation in the survey can take place online, via a questionnaire in paper form or by arranging a personal interview.

Interviewers from state of Berlin do not come unannounced

Interviewers commissioned by the Senate would make appointments in advance and would not appear unannounced, the press release continued. They would also be able to identify themselves as representatives of the ALP Institute for Housing and Urban Development, which is responsible for compiling the rent index for the Senate. According to the statement, the surveys only deal with questions about rent increases and housing and building amenities, never with personal data. If in doubt, tenants can contact the commissioned institute ALP ([phone]) or the Senate Administration ([phone]).