German alliance launches petition for nationwide rent cap

A nationwide alliance of approximately 70 organizations has launched a petition calling for a federal rent cap in Germany to combat rising housing costs. The campaign, titled ‘Mietendeckel jetzt’, was presented on the Reichstag meadow in Berlin and includes support from various tenant associations, the Green Party, Die Linke, and Verdi-Jugend.

The petition demands several measures: an immediate six-year freeze on rent increases, the reduction of existing rents to local averages, and a price cap for new rental agreements. Proponents argue these steps are necessary to prevent displacement, noting that in major cities like Berlin and Leipzig, rents have increased by up to 70 percent over the last decade. The German Tenants' Association (Deutscher Mieterbund) reports that one in three tenant households is currently overburdened by housing costs, with seven million households spending more than 30 percent of their income on rent.

Critics, including the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), warn that a rent cap could decrease construction activity and lower the quality of available housing. While political support varies, leaders from Die Linke and the Green Party have voiced strong backing for the initiative, citing the financial strain on citizens.