Berlin Left official explains federal chair's remarks on rents in socialised housing

Björn Tielebein, state business manager of the Berlin Left party, has responded to a Tagesspiegel inquiry about remarks made on a talk show by the party's federal chair, Ines Schwerdtner. Appearing with late-night host Sarah Bosetti on Sunday evening, Schwerdtner said rents would rise by 2% a year even in socialised flats. Bosetti asked whether the party did not want to lower rents at all. Schwerdtner replied that the homes must be maintained, that she would cut rents immediately if she could, and that she did not want to tell people nonsense.

The exchange raised the question of whether the Left had created false expectations during the Berlin campaign, which used slogans such as "End rent gouging" and a claim that a rent cap could halve asking rents.

Tielebein said the exploratory paper agreed by the Left, Greens and SPD limits rent rises in socialised flats to a maximum of 2% a year. He said this reduces the potential for rent increases by 60%, since current tenancy law allows 5% a year. In his view, this means a considerable reduction in what tenants pay over the medium and long term. He added that the small remaining increases are needed because of inflation, to ensure the homes are well managed.

He also said that "usurious rents" would be lowered and asking rents capped. Tagesspiegel notes that it remains unclear which instruments would achieve this.