In Berlin rents are rising inexorably. Citizens ‘ initiatives to make large real estate company responsible. You should be expropriated by a referendum – a radical and controversial idea.
Rouzbeh Taheri is the Initiator of a citizens ‘ initiative, which wants to expropriate large Berlin real estate company
Close to the Kottbusser gate, a small wooden cabin whose facade is studded with a number of posters. It fits seamlessly into your colorful Kreuzberg area: an area in Berlin, the life for high-pitched night, permissive drug use, and a hip, big-city life is known. The improvised structure was built a few years ago by local residents for various citizens ‘ initiatives. Especially movements against the increasing rental rates work here.
“This is not a coincidence that we have the cottage just here. You see, all of these apartments were bought by speculators. For many tenants it was too expensive,” says Rouzbeh Taheri, as he shows on the high-rise buildings around the hut: “This is not a state. People are ripped from their social environment, children have to change schools. A permanent fear of rent increases.”
Expropriation of “Miethaien”
Taheri was affected a few years ago, self-rising rents. His landlord renovated the insulation in his apartment – a rent increase was the result. His helplessness annoyed him so much that he was politically active. He initiated a citizen’s movement has embarked on a radical path against rising Rents. The Initiative “Deutsche Wohnen” dispossess wants to socialize the apartments a large real estate company “for the good of the General public”.
In order to have a realistic Chance of expropriation, must collect the Initiative in four months of 170,000 signatures in a “referendum”. Only then can it come to a referendum, in which more than half of the eligible voters in Berlin, the request would have to agree. Whether an expropriation takes place, is given the legal situation is questionable. Because the German basic law protects the property explicitly. However, the citizens ‘ initiative invokes the basic law. “The land (…) can be transferred to regulates for the purpose of socialization through a law, the nature and extent of compensation in the common property ( … )”, stated in article 15.
Especially against the “Deutsche Wohnen” is the Initiative. The listed housing company owns more than 100,000 apartments in Berlin alone. Taheri says that she was “the Symbol for a missed Mietpolitik, Miethaie and speculation”. Critics say the “Deutsche Wohnen” pursue a tough business strategy. Apartments would be renovated to increase then the Rent sharply. Many of Berlin’s tenants are therefore already against the company in court.
“Populist Mood”
The “Deutsche Wohnen” would not comment on a request from the DW to the people’s desire. The Association of Berlin-Brandenburg housing companies (BBU), the “Deutsche Wohnen” is a member, reacted angrily to the Plan of the citizens ‘ initiative. “The movement is a populist mood, not a single apartment, in addition. The objectives are not compatible with the Constitution and unviable,” says BBU spokesman David Eberhart.
Against Berlin’s largest real estate company, the “Deutsche Wohnen”, there are numerous protests
In contrast, Taheri sees the planned expropriation as an act of desperation: “such A radical step is necessary, unfortunately. Since the 1990s, rents have exploded, because the state has withdrawn, and the field of the free forces of the market. And which now has no affordable housing. If the policy makes anything we need to do that.”
The problems on the Berlin housing market are undisputed. The rental prices for apartments have doubled, according to the Rent index in the past seven years, almost. The Senate administration for urban development calculated that by the year 2030, a total of 194.000 apartments have to be built to cope with the housing shortage.
How useful expropriations would be?
The main reason for the overheated housing market, rapid population growth in the Region, whereby demand for accommodation is increasing. Most experts, however, see more effective solutions than expropriation. “The policy should focus on to build apartments in the affordable Segment. In addition, rural areas should be strengthened, so that Berlin is growing so strong,” calls Ralph Henger by the Institute of German economy (IW). In addition, expropriation would deter private investors massively – less flats would be the result.
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Despite the concerns of experts, the resonance in the red-red-green Berlin state government “to a large part positively”, so it looks Taheri. The Chairman of the party of The Left, Carola Bluhm, said the DW, your group will follow the work of the Initiative with great sympathy. Expropriation was justified “because of the constitutional principle that property should serve the benefit of the public, is neglected by large real estate corporations, miss.”
Berlin: Tough for investors
That citizens ‘ initiatives investors make a dash through the bill, in Berlin Tradition. A few weeks ago, only Google has the construction of a 500-million-Euro Start-up-Campus-canceled – after persistent protests by left-wing groups. In 2014, a citizens ‘ initiative prevented the development of Tempelhof field – the site of a former airport – through a referendum.
Rouzbeh Taheri believes in a success: “The system of direct democracy is strong in Berlin”
Such successes against investors agree Taheri optimistic: “This is more than mere reverie, or social romanticism, we have a realistic Chance”. In the wooden hut at the Kottbusser Tor, not only initiatives against high rental prices will be organized. Also courses for migrants and eat language editions for the needy are offered here.
The neighborhood holds together. “Even if the expropriation should fail, it is a warning to the stray capital and speculators, who come to Berlin,” says Taheri and indicates: It is not just about Rent, it’s also about the preservation of a threatened way of life.