Berlin Tenant Wins Eviction Battle After 18-Month Struggle

A Berlin tenant, M. Ceri, has finally found relief as the district court in Wedding dismissed her landlord's eviction lawsuit. The ruling ended Ceri's 18-month-long state of uncertainty, which began when she received a termination notice in July 2024.

Ceri's lawyer, Carola Handwerg, has been at the forefront of numerous eviction cases for personal use, echoing the concerns of Ceri's doctor about the impact of such threats on tenants' health. The landlord had initially sought to evict Ceri to use the apartment for himself, claiming self-use. However, the judge was not convinced by this argument, stating that the landlord's desire was neither serious nor justifiable, and economic considerations played a significant role in the termination.

The landlord later offered Ceri a one-room apartment as a compromise, but she rejected it, citing its small size and the landlord's ability to use it for short stays. The Berlin Tenants' Association (BTA) sees the expiration of the ten-year moratorium for self-use notices and the city-wide approval requirement for conversions to owner-occupied apartments as factors contributing to the rising numbers of forced evictions. In 2024, there were 2,495 forced evictions in Berlin, a 31% increase from 2020, with eviction notices due to accumulated rent arrears being the second most common cause.

The dismissal of the eviction lawsuit against M. Ceri is a victory for tenants' rights. However, the rising numbers of forced evictions in Berlin highlight the ongoing issue of tenants' security. The BTA and legal professionals like Carola Handwerg continue to advocate for tenants' rights and raise awareness about the health implications of eviction threats.