A new hotline has been launched in Berlin for tenants who suspect that they are paying illegally high rent. The initiative, organized by the Berlin Senate for Urban Development, Construction and Housing (SenStadt), aims to help city residents understand their rights and deal with high housing costs.
Before calling, tenants are advised to check whether their rent is in line with the Berlin Rent Index (Mietspiegel). This index reflects the average market prices for different areas of the city. Once this is established, the hotline consultants will help tenants determine whether their rent is too high and explain to them how they can reduce it. Tenants can also get help in person at Mieterberatung in Prenzlauer Berg or Asum GmbH in Friedrichshain.
According to the Mietspiegel law, passed in 2015, rents for new homes in restricted market areas cannot exceed the average comparable rate by more than 10%. However, according to Koni, 75% of tenants in Berlin pay more than the law allows.
Tenant associations have criticized Mietspiegel for being too strict and for "loopholes" that allow landlords to raise prices.
Many tenants are hesitant to challenge high rents for fear of being evicted. If a tenant has decided to sublet their rented property, they are in most cases not entitled to request a rent reduction.
Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) has called for stricter regulations on rents at the federal level. He noted that the situation with rents in new buildings is particularly difficult and many residents cannot afford high payments.
The initiative is an important step towards protecting tenants' rights and ensuring fair housing prices in Berlin.
Detailed statistics on average property prices in Bulgaria by city and neighborhood can be seen HERE