It's High Time for Tenant Protection: Raed Saleh Pushes for Change in Federal Coalition Talks
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Coalition at the federal level needs to fulfill promises on tenant protection, asserts Saleh. - Coalition in the federal government should implement tenant safeguards: Saleh's stance
With housing costs skyrocketing, Raed Saleh, Berlin's SPD leader, is urging his party and the Union to prioritize tenant protection in the federal coalition negotiations. "We're in dire need of a revolution in rent policy," Saleh exclaimed to the German Press Agency. "Extending the rent brake just gives us a brief reprieve, but it's not nearly enough. We require more regulation of rent increases."
One crucial point that Saleh emphasizes is the necessity of an opt-out clause for states in tenancy law. "We need this in Berlin, but also in other metropolises grappling with housing shortages," Saleh stated.
In line with his proposal, the SPD in the Berlin Senate has suggested: "For areas with housing tensions, we will create a state opt-out clause in the BGB (Civil Code), empowering the states to implement rent caps or similar rent-lowering regulations."
Saleh considers this an essential input from Berlin. "This clause doesn't even cost the federal government a penny. Of course, it may interfere with the market. But in a social market economy, the state must guarantee the possibility to intervene."
Housing isn't just a concern for Berlin; it's a nationwide issue, Saleh highlighting. "In every major city, rental prices determine whether people can still afford to reside there. And whether people can still afford to live determines how much faith they have in democracy."
Saleh sees a unique opportunity for the SPD in this struggle. "I don't want people to be displaced because they can no longer afford to live. That's why I say: Lars, Saskia, this point is crucial for us in Berlin and for the citizens in all the cities of the republic. Listen to them. Stand up to the lobbyists. They've already milked enough profits from the distressed."
The SPD can reclaim credibility by addressing the rent question, Saleh claimed. "Dear Saskia, dear Lars, this is also a historic opportunity. Seize it." The fourth grand coalition since 2005 must ultimately deliver on tenant protection.
- Raed Saleh
- SPD
- Tenant Protection
- Berlin
- Election Campaign
- Federal Election
- Democracy
- German Press Agency
- Rent Brake
- Tenancy Law
- Lars Klingbeil
- Saskia Esken
- Berlin Senate
Insights:
- The Wohngeld-Plus-Gesetz, implemented in 2023, introduced the biggest-ever increase in housing benefits in Germany, alleviating housing costs for low-income households in cities like Berlin.
- Berlin politicians are pushing for stricter tenant protection laws, focusing on preventing "Eigenbedarf" evictions, which allow landlords to reclaim properties for personal use.
- The Alliance for Affordable Housing, established in 2022, provides substantial funding for social housing and promotes affordable housing options.
- The 'National Homelessness Action Plan,' adopted in April 2024, aims to eradicate homelessness by 2030, with federal, state, and local cooperation.
- Ongoing debates focus on balancing environmental goals with economic realities in the revision of the Building Energy Act, which could impact energy costs for tenants and landlords.
- Raed Saleh, SPD leader in Berlin, is advocating for increased tenant protection in the federal coalition negotiations, calling for a revolution in rent policy and extending the focus beyond the rent brake to more regulation of rent increases.
- In alignment with this, the SPD in the Berlin Senate proposes creating a state opt-out clause in the BGB (Civil Code), allowing states to implement rent caps or similar rent-lowering regulations in areas with housing tensions.
- Saleh believes that this opt-out clause, which he perceives as essential for Berlin and other metropolises struggling with housing shortages, will not incur cost to the federal government and is compatible with a social market economy's obligation to guarantee the possibility to intervene.
