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Vonovia Rent Hikes Face Pushback in Berlin After Court Rejects Invented Index Claim

Tenant advocates point to a recent Berlin ruling that undercuts the company’s justification for raising rents.

Overview

  • Tenants at the Reichsstraße estate in Charlottenburg report new rent‑increase demands, prompting a meeting that drew about 60 residents after outreach to roughly 400 households.
  • The demands often cite an attribute labeled “überdurchschnittliche Nahversorgung,” which does not exist in Berlin’s official Mietspiegel.
  • On September 30, the Landgericht Berlin ruled that public‑transport access and local supply are already fully captured in the rent index’s location category, barring landlords from adding such features.
  • A Vonovia spokesperson said the company has analyzed the judgment and remains convinced of its legal position, with additional procedures still pending.
  • Case checks by advisers found requested rents exceeding lawful comparables, including one recalculation of €6.60 per square meter versus a €7.49 demand, as advocates warn many tenants accept increases under pressure and organize protest letters.