Berlin’s bold plan to slash trainee rents by 40% with new housing scheme

Struggling with €600+ rents? Berlin is fighting back with subsidized flats for trainees—starting at half the market price. Here’s how it works.

, and Administrator

2025 December 26 . 2:34 PM

1 min read

In this image there is a building for that building there are windows and doors, on that building... — In this image there is a building for that building there are windows and doors, on that building there is some text.

Berlin’s bold plan to slash trainee rents by 40% with new housing scheme

Berlin is launching a new housing scheme to help trainees find affordable accommodation. The programme, announced by Labour Senator Cansel Kiziltepe, aims to tackle high rents that often exceed €600 for a single room. The first tenants will move into subsidised flats in Berlin-Mitte by early 2026.

The project, named Trainee Housing, will start with around 150 spots in shared flats and single apartments. These will be located at Kolping Jugendwohnen on Heinrich-Heine-Straße, offering 104 rooms for young people aged 18 to 26. Rents will be capped at about €350 per month, far below market rates.

Funding for the scheme comes from multiple sources. Companies can buy allocation rights, while the Senate will cover costs for trainees in public service roles. Extra state support will help those facing financial difficulties. Over the next two years, the project will receive €14.5 million from Berlin’s budget and a federal special fund.

The city also plans to set up a Trainee Support Agency to guide young workers through their vocational training. This follows similar initiatives in Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt and Nürnberg, where Kolping projects already provide affordable housing for apprentices.

The first phase of the programme will begin in summer 2026 with 150 housing spots. Berlin expects to expand the scheme gradually in the future. The goal is to make vocational training more accessible by easing the financial burden of high rents.