Heating outages reported in several Berlin districts, including Pankow

The Berliner Zeitung reports a growing number of complaints from Berlin tenants about heating failures and poor conditions as the cold season begins. The paper names Pankow and Steglitz-Zehlendorf among the affected districts.

In one building complex in Steglitz-Zehlendorf, a tenant says the heating does not work or was not switched on despite the start of the heating season. Tenants also describe delayed repairs, missing stairwell cleaning since November 2025, ignored water damage and flats left empty for more than a year. A yoga studio in the building reportedly lost significant income. Residents say letters and emails usually go unanswered.

In another complex, heating is reported to be down in five connected buildings. One tenant says her flat is only 12 to 13 degrees. Tenants also report mould that was painted over before they moved in, leaking windows, and bills of around 7,000 euros per household for replacing windows. One tenant says she will not pay. Residents say the management refuses to release them from their leases and threatens evictions.

In Berliner Straße 84 in Pankow, the residents' group describes wastewater in the cellar up to the electricity meters after a pipe burst, along with mould and water damage. The owner won an administrative court case against the state of Berlin. The district had planned to use its right of first refusal on behalf of a cooperative, but the report says the state is hesitating over funding and potential buyers are dropping out because of renovation costs.

The report concludes that the cases point to structural problems. It says tenants are calling for lasting solutions.