Berlin Housing Data Shows 320,000 Units Short as Senate Votes on Rent Controls

Berlin's Senate extended the rent cap for another two years after statistics revealed a shortfall of 320,000 affordable apartments across the city as of January 2026.

The move comes as the SPD-led coalition faces pressure from rising rents that have outpaced wage growth by 9 percent since 2023. Officials cited the data during closed-door talks last week to justify tighter rules rather than risk further displacement in central districts.

The decision directly affects buildings along Oranienstraße in Kreuzberg and in the blocks surrounding Mauerpark in Prenzlauer Berg, where the Senate Department for Urban Development and Housing will now review 4,800 new tenancy contracts each quarter. Local tenant groups in Neukölln have already logged 1,200 complaints about illegal increases since May.

Rent and vacancy figures

Internal documents from the city statistics office show the average asking rent reached €14.80 per square metre in Mitte last month, up from €12.10 in July 2024. The overall vacancy rate sits at 1.1 percent, with only 8,400 units listed as empty in the entire city on 1 June. These numbers guided the coalition to cap increases at 11 percent over three years instead of the previous 15 percent limit.

Starting 1 August, landlords in the covered zones must submit rent histories to the housing authority before signing new leases. Tenants in Friedrichshain can check their buildings' status through the Senate's online portal, which already holds records for 92,000 addresses.

Residents facing an increase above the new cap should contact the local Mieterverein office by 15 September to file a review before the first payment is due.