Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Berlin’s radical plan to stop rocketing rents
Though it hasn’t skyrocketed like San Francisco, monthly rents in Berlin have more than doubled in the last decade. This is a big hit to the residents and newcomers because most of the residents rent their homes or apartments in the capital city. Why such a rapid rent hike? It’s the market. The demand has been increasing more than the supply. 10 years ago, the population of Berlin was below 3.4 million, but not it has increased by 300,000 to 3.7 million and is expected to increase to four million by 2025. It’s a big problem because people’s income hasn’t grown that much.
In order to cope with this rising problem, some lawmakers are trying to cap the rent increase in the city for the next five years until the supply catches up with the demand. That may sound to those who are looking for affordable apartments or renewing their existing contracts. However, it could be a double-edged sword because it could also discourage landlords to upgrade or maintain their rental properties and developers to build new ones fast.
As Amazon has just scrapped its plan to build a NY headquarters because of the backlash from members of the community, growth may not always be welcomed by the residents.
Enjoy reading and think what could be viable solutions to rent increases.
http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20190226-berlins-radical-plan-to-stop-rocketing-rents
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