Rent demo in Berlin Expropriate, now!

More than 10,000 people demonstrated on Saturday against rising rents. The focus was on the demand for the socialization of large housing groups.

Under the motto “Bring on the apartments, down with the rent,” the alliance against displacement and rent madness called for a large demonstration on Saturday. The start and end point was in front of the Red Town Hall. According to organizers, more than 10,000 people took part in the protest march.

After 11 a.m., some joined one of the 12 shuttle demos that picked up the tenants from the respective districts. From 12 p.m. onwards, a few hundred people from Friedrichshain gathered in front of the Frankfurter Tor subway station to march to the Red Town Hall with flags and banners.

The slogan “finally implement the referendum” could be read again and again. This refers to the referendum on Deutsche Wohnen and Co. Expropriation, which over 59 percent of those who voted in Berlin voted for on September 21, 2021. Almost five years later, it still hasn't been implemented.

But the demand for the socialization of large housing companies remains and is also determining the current election campaign for the Berlin House of Representatives. The leader of the Left Party, Ines Schwerdtner, declared the implementation of the referendum to be a red line if her party were to form the government. SPD top candidate Steffen Krach made it clear: that couldn't be done with him.

Demand for socialization

There was little understanding of Krach's position at the demonstration. “I am outraged that Steffen Krach ignored the voices of the Berliners who voted for the referendum,” said Elke Bosold to the taz. The pensioner from Lichtenberg is satisfied that the implementation of the referendum plays such a big role at the demonstration. This is a clear message to all parties that will make up the future Senate.

Nico Hertz-Eichenrode from the Deutsche Wohnen & Initiative sees it similarly. Co. expropriate: “The best remedy for the rent crisis that the Berlin state government can implement immediately is socialization,” says the activist. “Freeing 220,000 apartments from the profit logic of large corporations and making them permanently affordable” would relax the rental market as a whole.

On Saturday there were many people on the streets who were involved in the referendum five years ago. In recent years it has seemed as if the Berlin tenant movement had reached its limits. The corona pandemic had slowed down the movement. In addition, the Berlin rent rebels have suffered several defeats in recent years. The rent cap was legally overturned and the instrument of the right of first sale, with which many tenants were able to protect themselves from the desires of real estate companies for several years, was massively restricted by the courts.

Tenants can only defend themselves together

But on Saturday the Berlin rent rebels were back on the streets in five-figure numbers. In speeches, residents of Vonovia and other real estate companies reported horrendous rents, defects and problems with their landlords. The message: Tenants can only defend themselves against displacement and rising rents together and fight for a different housing policy.

Kim Meyer from the Alliance Against Displacement and Rent Madness makes it clear: "After the election, our fight will continue; no matter who sits in the Senate." Pensioner Elke Bosold can't wait to collect signatures again for a new referendum that the DW Enteignen initiative is currently preparing. It should contain a concrete legal text that will then come into force. This is plan B if the referendum continues to be delayed even after the elections.

https://taz.de/Mietendemo-in-Berlin/!6209966/

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web address: https://kontrapolis.info/18621/author/group: tazfeed-date: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 - 08:31