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Berlin neighbourhood fights gentrification
Published: 22 Dec 12 09:14 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20121222-46933.html
In an effort to stop luxury renovations that are forcing long-time local residents out of their homes, the local government in a Berlin district will not approve many remodeling requests, including floor heating and building a second balcony.
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A local politician in charge of construction said about 45,000 flats will be affected by the changes. The restrictions do not apply to new construction and people living in owner-occupied flats can carry out luxury renovations on them. They just can’t rent them out that way.
Flats designated as residential housing can also not be rezoned for commercial use and they cannot be used as vacation homes. Local officials estimate that in one small section of the neighborhood some 1,000 smaller flats were lost because landlords combined smaller units together to make larger, more luxurious spaces.
Building lifts is not prohibited, however, even thought that typically raises the value of the property. Local building officials want to promote barrier-free living and also recognize that the population is aging and more lifts will be needed, the paper said.
Officials recognise that there are plenty of people who can pay higher rents, but they want to protect long-time residents of the neighbourhood, many of whom have had to leave due to rising rents.
A state secretary in the Berlin city government praised the measures, but also said the new rules are not for every part of the city.
According to city forecasts, the Pankow district, which also includes the thoroughly gentrified area of Prenzlauer Berg, will experience the highest growth rate of all Berlin neighbourhoods, with forecasts showing a 16.3 percent increase in residents by 2030, when it is expected to house 437,200 Berliners.
The Local/mw
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Your comments about this article:
Gone are they days improving. We are now in the Social Justice phase of Socialism.
The thing that makes Berlin special, is the cheap rents, because it allows people to have a life and get off the treadmill for a moment, unlike other cities where housing is seen as an investment commodity, and young people are now forced out of ever owning their own home.
I own an apartment, but I'd be happy if the prices never went up, so that I can keep the rent low and have young creative people continue to rent it. The last thing Berlin needs is to turn into New York or London, full of suits who have made both cities soulless. I love Berlin.
'Flats designated as residential housing can also not be rezoned for commercial use and they cannot be used as vacation homes.'
I think this may apply to owner occupied apartments also. If so this may be a major shake up in ownership rights and will surely result in an avalaunce of legal challenges.
Not that I rely on TL to have trangressed the article into Ex-Pat furmula English.
Speculation (by definition) does not ensure profits. Search for 'housing bubble' and 'under water'.
'Flats designated as residential housing can also not be rezoned for commercial use and they cannot be used as vacation homes.'
As I said in my previous post. This looks like flat owners in Pankow cannot rent their flats any more as vacation homes. This is a restriction on ownership rights and I reckon it will be challenged. I own a flat in Charlottenburg and would not like this to happen in my Bezirk.