FROM 2024, a new apartment rental law will come into force in Berlin, which the Berlin Senate recently adopted. According to the new rule, single people will only be able to rent a one-room state-owned apartment, and couples a two-room apartment.

Almost two weeks ago, the Berlin Senate announced a “project to combat the shortage of housing space in Berlin”. Strict regulations on the apartment market should in future ensure more apartments and affordable rents in Berlin. But the plan sparked a revolt among tenants.

Despite all the criticism, the project is now official. Single people in Berlin will only be able to move into one-room apartments. According to Berliner Zeitung, single people renting a state-owned apartment should receive only a one-room apartment. The Senate announced this on Monday (25 September). The agreement applies from 2024.

“When renting and subletting, an appropriate ratio between household size and apartment size is ensured in order to make the best possible use of the existing housing stock,” states the cooperation agreement between the Senate and six housing associations owned by the state and by the real estate trading agency Berlinovo, reports Fenix Magazin.

Unclear guidelines

When asked what exactly an appropriate ratio means, the city administration for buildings replied: “Families will move into large apartments, small apartments will be reserved for single people. This will always be a separate decision on a case-by-case basis and there will be no specifications by apartment size or number of tenants.”

However, what exactly constitutes a large or small apartment is not specified.

Almost two weeks ago it was announced that single people would only be able to move into one-room apartments, and couples only into two-room apartments. Only couples with children will be allowed to rent apartments with more rooms.

Source: index.hr