Berlin Faces Widespread Overcharging in Rental Market, Data Shows

A new app reveals that three-quarters of reported cases in Berlin involve rents exceeding legal limits, with calls for stronger enforcement measures.

The 'Mietwucher-Rechner' app, launched by Germany’s Left Party, has been used over 18,000 times in Berlin since mid-November 2024 to check for excessive rents.
Approximately 75% of cases reported via the app involve rents exceeding the legal threshold of 20% above the local average, with an average overcharge of 54.7%.
Landlords charging more than 20% above the local average risk fines of up to €50,000, with cases exceeding 50% potentially qualifying as criminal offenses.
The app has prompted 829 formal reports to Berlin housing authorities, but enforcement efforts are hindered by resource and staffing shortages in local districts.
The Left Party has urged the Berlin Senate to provide financial and personnel support to districts for investigating and prosecuting rental overcharging cases.