From Hildburg Bruns
A new rent index applies in Berlin with immediate effect. The possible jumps for increases are plus 5.4 percent for all mean values of the decisive table. After that, the average rent rose by 37 cents to EUR 7.16 per square meter and month (basic).
The new rent index applies to around 1.5 million existing tenants (except for social housing, detached and semi-detached houses).
“It is not the image of politically desired rent levels,” clarifies building senator Christian Gaebler (SPD). But it reflects what is happening on the rental market. With the local comparative rent, rent increases can be justified or even dismissed.
Christian Gaebler (SPD), Berlin Senator for Urban Development, Building and Housing Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Bernd von Jutrczenka
The respective mean values in the table differ according to living space (less than 40 to more than 90 sqm), old building/new building in eight periods and equipment (simple, medium, good). These classifications have not changed. Compared to the 2021 rent index table, however, each value increases evenly by 5.4 percent.
Because there is a difference in determining the values this year: no tenants and landlords were surveyed. Instead, an index was formed from data from the State Statistical Office – it included the increase in net rents and consumer prices (excluding energy, food). Since 2021, there has been an annual plus of 2.7 percent.
The rent index 2023 is only an interim solution, it is valid until May 2024. Then there will be a so-called “qualified” rent index for two years.
15,000 tenants/landlords are then surveyed for him. That was not possible this time because time was too short: one provider had sued against the award – the Court of Appeal ruled in favor of Berlin, but the creation was delayed by a year.