20260906 Mieten runter, Löhne rauf!

Against the Rent Crisis

… more than 11,000 people marched through Berlin yesterday. Activists from “Aktion Freiheit statt Angst e.V.” were among them. Not only here in the city, but also in Munich, Frankfurt, and many other cities, it is no longer possible to find affordable housing. In doing so, those in power have once again trampled on a human right. According to the UN Social Charter, housing — just like education and food — is an inalienable human right.

It is unacceptable that families have to spend up to 40% of their income on housing alone. In addition, people have to deal with completely opaque rent increases and utility bills. As soon as you start looking for a larger apartment — for example, because you’re expecting a child — you walk right into the arms of speculators. Every new lease brings them additional profit. Enough is enough!

Homes for those who live in them!

Years ago, a majority of Berliners voted in favor of nationalizing the large housing corporations. Aside from working groups and commissions, there was nothing but hot air. Now the federal government(!) wants to nullify this Berlin referendum through an unconstitutional law that is supposed to prohibit the expropriation of real estate. The articles in the Basic Law say otherwise!

This is another reason why the German Trade Union Federation (DGB), the Berlin Tenants’ Association, the “Expropriate Deutsche Wohnen & Co” initiative, and climate protection groups called for this demonstration. In addition to the expropriation of large real estate corporations, the current demands include a nationwide rent cap, the conversion of vacant office towers into apartments, the abolition of evictions for personal use and forced evictions, and, finally, a return to municipal, eco-friendly construction of urgently needed housing.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)