Berlin left-leaning parties plan to socialize up to 160,000 apartments

The Left Party, the Greens and the Social Democrats on Saturday presented the results of their exploratory talks in Berlin's Mitte district under the title "More together, more Berlin." At the heart of the paper is the socialization of large housing portfolios under Article 15 of the Basic Law, a provision never applied before. It would affect private companies owning more than 10,000 apartments in Berlin, which would be allowed to keep 10,000 units. Left Party lead candidate Elif Eralp said around 160,000 apartments would be affected in total. Cooperatives and apartments built since 2021 or still to be built are exempt, and compensation is to be capped at 16 billion euros. A bill is to be submitted to the state parliament in mid-2028.

"Our goal is that socialization stops rents from rising further," Eralp said, according to ZDF. Rents at state-owned housing companies would be allowed to rise by no more than 2% a year. The parties also plan a major construction program, an annual free bulky-waste collection day and dropping the 17th section of the A100 city motorway. SPD lead candidate Steffen Krach said: "The talks were not always easy." He said he stood by his position on socialization but, as a democrat, had to make compromises.

The Greens and the SPD are set to decide on Monday whether to open coalition negotiations, while the Left Party will vote at a convention on Oct. 31. If all agree, talks could start in early November. The Left Party won the Sept. 20 state election with 25.7%; the alliance would hold 91 of 153 seats.