The housing crisis in Europe has ceased to be a silent problem and has become a real problem. Prices that do not stop growing, salaries that do not keep pace and a lack of offer for purchase or long-term rental which makes access to housing increasingly difficult.
Meanwhile, Lisbon or against tourist flatsBerlin has decided to attack another less visible but equally influential phenomenon: the boom in furnished temporary rentalsa formula that has Prices skyrocketed to over 30 euros per square meter.
Faced with this situation, the German capital is now trying a clear and forceful measure that is based on the obligation to ask permission from anyone who wants to sublet their home temporarily in certain areas.
The temporary rental business, in the spotlight
Since this weekend, Berlin requires administrative authorization to sublease homes in the so-called social protection zonesneighborhoods where real estate pressure has .
The objective is to stop a model that has spread in recent years: the temporary rental of furnished apartments, often managed by companies, which is outside the limits of price regulation.
A situation that has allowed rents skyrocket above 20 and even 30 euros per square metera price well above what a resident with a traditional contract pays.
In practice, these apartments function as a hidden alternative to tourist rentals: stays of weeks or months, high prices and a constant rotation of tenants that .
Permissions, exceptions and a clear message
The new regulations do not prohibit subletting, but introduce the key filter of need to apply for permission at district officeswhich affects 82 areas of the city where around 1.2 million people live.
In addition, the Berlin Senate wanted to clarify that individuals, such as students going on exchange or temporarily displaced workers, will be able to continue subletting their usual homes, since the focus is elsewhere.
Concretely, The measure is intended for large operators that have turned temporary rental into a highly profitable business, leaving aside the fact that the home must fulfill a residential functionnot become .
The measure responds to years of social tension, citizen protests and an increasingly inaccessible market for residents. In many neighborhoods, the rise of these rentals has contributed to the silent expulsion of neighbors, replaced by temporary tenants with greater purchasing power.
The problem is not only the price, but the city model that is being built with this new housing model. Spaces without a stable community, with less roots, and an increasingly fragile daily life.
The beginning of a broader change?
As with many urban regulations, there is no shortage of criticism of this new regulation. Some legal experts already question whether these types of restrictions are compatible with state regulations, and judicial resources are not ruled out.
However, beyond the legal debate, Berlin sends a political signal that resonates throughout Europe: limit the use of housing as an economic asset It is a priority for the .
The question now is whether other cities will follow the same path or continue to allow the market to set the pace to the detriment of their residents. Because The problem is no longer just real estate, it is social..
