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Friedrichshain‑Kreuzberg Blocks Short‑Term Furnished Lettings in Seven Apartments

District leaders say landlords exploit a rent‑cap loophole on fixed‑term leases that drives prices beyond local residents’ reach.

Overview

  • The district issued use prohibitions for seven units in the Boxhagener Platz social preservation area, its first renewed action since 2021.
  • Officials resumed enforcement after an administrative lawsuit over an earlier order was withdrawn earlier this year.
  • District construction chief Florian Schmidt argues the Mietpreisbremse does not apply to fixed‑term contracts under the Civil Code, enabling higher charges.
  • Rents have surged in the borough, with offers above €20 per square meter reported as common and furnished short‑term listings spreading widely.
  • Other Berlin districts report similar complaints, and the Senate is preparing a housing protection law that would require permits for temporary furnished rentals and bar them in preservation zones.