Rent Freeze #3: Don't Spend It

Rent Freeze #3: Don't Spend It

Rent Freeze #3: Don't Spend It

This month residents of Berlin should experience the biggest collective rent reduction in history. About 340,000 residents - one in six - may be eligible for a rent cut under the Mietendeckel, Berlin's radical new housing policy. But landlords are doing their best to stop it.

On November 23 landlords must reduce rents to regulation levels or face fines of €500,000. Tenants can check if they're paying too much at this website: http://www.mietendeckel.berlin.de
And they can cheating landlords to the city government here: https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/330040/

Anyone who gets a rent reduction should save the money, as they might have to pay it back. The Mietendeckel is being challenged in Germany's constitutional court, with a ruling expected in mid-2021. Jöran Mandik explains the court process - and the judges' red robes.

Furnished flats are not exempt from the Mietendeckel. But some companies are offering a buy-and-lease-back service model to help landlords get around the law. Tenants are told they have no choice but to rent both the flat and the furniture together. Other tricks include renting expensive basements, parking spaces and coworking desks inside their flat.

Double contracts have become standard: residents are offered two prices - a lower one that matches the rent freeze legislation, and a higher one they'll have ot pay if the law is later ruled unconstitutional. Such double contracts are most likely legal and enforceable, says rental expert Daniel Halmer from Conny.de (formerly Wenigermiete). But they could still be challenged using the Mietpriesbremse law, an older regulation which limits rent prices under some conditions.

What's the effect of the rent freeze so far? If you already have an apartment, the rent freeze appears to be working as expected. If you're looking for an apartment, things are tougher due to landlords restricting supply. A study by the ZIA found average rental prices have sunk by 5.7% in the first half of 2020. But availability has also fallen by about 50%, as property owners withhold empty flats from the market. For new flats built after 2014 - which are exempt from the Mietendeckel - prices are up 7.5%, and availability has increased by 18%, according to real estate portal ImmobilienScout24.

Swedish property management company Heimstaden Bostat isn't deterred by the rent freeze. The company is trying to purchase about 130 buildings with almost 4000 apartments at a cost of €830 million. Heimstaden told us they had factored the rental regulations into their financial planning.

Researcher Christoph Trautwetter recently produced a report called 'Who Owns Berlin' for the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung. He debunks the myth that warned the Mietendeckel would scare investors away. "There is an excess of capital looking to invest under any condition, and ready to accept the Mietendeckel as a condition to invest in Berlin," Trautwetter said. You can read his report here: https://www.rosalux.de/publikation/id/43284

Next up on this series - who is to blame for Berlin's lack of new properties? We'll also hear from small-time landlords who face financial ruin under the rent freeze.

Rent Freeze is produced and presented by Joel Dullroy, Maisie Hitchcock, Jöran Mandik and Daniel Stern. Music by Tom Evans. Artwork by Jim Avignon. Produced in partnership with RadioEins, Berlin's public broadcaster.

Support us with a donation! https://www.radiospaetkauf.com/donate/

Jaksot(226)

Görlitzer Park drug crackdown

Görlitzer Park drug crackdown

Radio Spaetkauf is back after a long break, and there's a lot of news to catch up on. New co-hosts Daniel and Jöran join Joel in our new studio at Donau115, a bar and creative space in Neukölln. On this episode, we discuss the drug crackdown in Görlitzer Park, which is now the most regulated space in all of Germany. Since March 31, it has become completely illegal to possess any amount of marijuana in the formerly anarchic park. This makes Görli the only place in Germany where you cannot carry a small amount of weed for personal use - even conservative Bayern allows up to 5 grams. We talk about the politics behind the crackdown, which has as much to do with gentrification, asylum regulation and power struggle in the Rotes Rathaus as it does about drug policy. Berlin has been spared from the expense and waste of the Olympic Games. The city has lost the bid to bid to host the Olympics, as Hamburg has instead been selected as Germany's nomination for the 2024 and 2028 games. The reason Hamburg won was because of Berliners' apathetic response to the city government's attempts to whip up excitement through a transparently fake pro-Olympic graffiti tagging campaign. Almost 400 of Berlin's 500 poker machine casinos could close in 2016. The casinos are expected to fail new regulations aimed at reducing gambling in the city. In public transport news, the city will get a temporary renumbered U-Bahn line. The U12 will combine sections of the U1 and U2 as trackwork and station renovations at Gleisdreieck cause months-long disruptions. Got a story idea? Want to participate in Radio Spaetkauf? Get in touch! Write to us at hallo@radiospaetkauf.com.

17 Huhti 201549min

RS#17 2014: Blue about Blu

RS#17 2014: Blue about Blu

On our final episode for 2014: Berlin's most famous mural has disappeared under a coat of black paint. The Blu mural at Schlesisches Tor was erased by the original artists themselves. Maisie gives her tips on how not to be saddened by the city's constant evolution. Former mayor Klaus Wowereit is likely to be given a free U-Bahn pass as part of his post-job perk package. We discuss how both the top and bottom of Berlin society ride the trains without paying. The new and exclusive Mall of Berlin has been renamed the Mall of Shame by former workers, who are campaigning to get paid fair wages. The shopping center was constructed by Romanian workers who claim they were mistreated and left underpaid by the development company, which has now filed for bankruptcy. The Club Commission thinks the whole building should be taken over and turned into a culture center instead. Berlin columnist John Riceburg shares his story about witnessing his neighbor's eviction, and his thoughts on what should be done to prevent people being thrown out of their homes. Read more of his work at http://johnriceburg.wordpress.com. Thanks for listening during 2014! Special thanks to Rico Valtin of the podcast Außer Der Reihe http://www.valtin.org/ausser-der-reihe for sharing his microphones with us all year.

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RS#16: Tear down this mall

RS#16: Tear down this mall

RS#16: Tear down this mall by Radio Spaetkauf Berlin

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RS#15 2014: Berlin's new mayor Michael Müller

RS#15 2014: Berlin's new mayor Michael Müller

Berlin has a new mayor - Michael Müller, the man who headed the failed attempt to build on Tempelhof field. Will the city like being run by the man whose development plan they rejected? The 25th anniversary of the fall of the wall was celebrated with white balloons being released - and many of the stands being stolen. But the city says it won't hunt down those who nicked a stand. We talk to visting journalist Nalina Eggert about the anniversary. The company behind the famous nightclub Kater Holzig has filed for bankruptcy, in what appears to be a tricky maneouver to avoid paying its bills. The party continues in a different location under a new name and new legal entity, which plans to build apartments and restaurants on the site of the original club Bar 25. This show presented by Joel and Andrew, with help from Nalina Eggert. Music from The History of Colour TV and Erfolg.

17 Marras 201457min

RS#14 2014: Get a job in the West, not the former East

RS#14 2014: Get a job in the West, not the former East

Coming up: Rent controls are coming, but they might have some unwanted side effects. We'll tell you why it's better to get a job in West Berlin than in the old East. And there's some bad news for anyone wanting to open a bar in Kreuzberg - you probably won't be allowed to.

20 Loka 20141h

RS#13 2014: The Klaus Wowereit Effect

RS#13 2014: The Klaus Wowereit Effect

On Radio Spätkauf #13: The Klaus Wowereit legacy. How has he changed Berlin during his period as mayor? We will be analysing the soon to be former Major of Berlin before he official steps down in December. Would you believe it…. more of the Berlin Wall is undertreat and GEMA has again been disputing Berlin's music establishments. Berlin seems to be taking part in "build the fastest castle" as it's Stadtschloss seems to be making rapid progress. We also have an update on Berlin's refugees and their recent turn of events. Of course there is the standard #RSShortNews #RSTransport and music this episode from Sealake, Antoni Maiovvi and Jaakko Eino Kalevi.

12 Syys 201454min

RS#Extra 2014: Yellow Press

RS#Extra 2014: Yellow Press

RS#Extra 2014: Yellow Press by Radio Spaetkauf Berlin

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RS#12 2014: Hello Lenin

RS#12 2014: Hello Lenin

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19 Elo 201450min

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