Overview

• Neukölln has officially prohibited furnished, fixed-term leases in Milieuschutzgebiete, citing §172 Baugesetzbuch to preserve social structure and affordability.
• The district has filed multiple model lawsuits to enforce the ban, building on a key 2024 court ruling that upheld restrictions on exploitative rental practices.
• Furnished short-term rentals in these areas have been linked to rents averaging €24.44 per sqm, more than double the rate of regular leases, reducing the availability of affordable housing.
• Officials argue that such rentals target wealthier tenants, risking the displacement of long-term, lower-income residents in protected neighborhoods.
• Neukölln’s initiative, supported by incoming federal and Berlin-state commitments to tighter rental regulations, may influence broader city-wide housing policies.