Berlin opens 231 low‑cost rent‑controlled apartments on Havel waterfront

The housing association Howoge has completed a new development of 231 rent‑controlled apartments in the Spandau district of Berlin, near the Havel River. The two seven‑storey buildings and a smaller block provide 32 m² units for as little as €224 per month (cold rent). The first tenants have already moved in, and the remaining units are being let. The complex features energy‑efficient systems, photovoltaic roofs, heat pumps and extensive bicycle parking, and is served by nearby bus, S‑ and U‑train connections.

A separate analysis of Berlin’s housing market shows that gentrification has spread to the city’s outskirts. In districts such as Gropiusstadt, Neu‑Hohenschönhausen and Britz, rent for a 90‑m² apartment can exceed 30 % of a typical household’s net income, reaching up to 44 % in some areas. The rising rent burden is expected to become a key issue in the upcoming Berlin state election, highlighting the tension between new affordable projects and broader market pressures.