But, unlike many other cities, Berlin’s politicians, residents and activists are pitching radical ideas to try to address the housing crisis, including a ban on mega-landlords and a rental freeze. The push to eliminate mega-landlords is spearheaded by Expropriate Deutsche Wohnen & Co., which was set up last year to protest the power of Deutsche Wohnen, Berlin’s largest landlord. Big ideas to address Berlin’s housing woes aren’t just coming from activists. Housing is “the biggest, most dominant problem in Berlin,” said Julian Zado, deputy head of the Berlin Social Democrats and one of the politicians behind the rent freeze proposal. Zado believes the rent freeze could help ease pressure on renters until a spate of new housing can be built in the city.

Source: Huffington Post April 12, 2019 09:45 UTC