German Cities See Sharp Rent Increases Over Nine Years

Rents in Berlin have doubled since 2014, while Munich remains the most expensive city, highlighting the ineffectiveness of the 2015 rent control law.

A government report reveals that rents for new leases in Germany's 14 largest cities have risen significantly since 2014, with Berlin experiencing the steepest increase.
Berlin's average rent for new leases has doubled from €8.10 per square meter in 2014 to €16.35 in 2023, while Munich remains the priciest city at €20.59 per square meter.
Eight of the 14 cities now have average rents above €10 per square meter, compared to only three cities in 2014.
The 2015 rent control law, known as the Mietpreisbremse, has been criticized as ineffective, with calls for stricter enforcement and broader reforms to combat rising rents.
The data focuses on online rental listings and excludes cheaper rental options and existing leases, raising questions about the representativeness of the findings.