Berlin’s ‘Gypsy Hotel’ Shut Down After Years of Scandal and Complaints

A hotspot for crime and controversy, this Berlin shelter’s closure leaves 28 displaced—and raises urgent questions about the city’s emergency housing crisis. What went wrong?

, and Administrator

2025 December 10 . 11:23 PM

1 min read

At the bottom of the image there is a road with cars and a bus. Behind them there are buildings... — At the bottom of the image there is a road with cars and a bus. Behind them there are buildings with walls, windows, dish and roofs. And also there are posters and banners to the walls. There is a pole with streetlight.

Berlin’s ‘Gypsy Hotel’ Shut Down After Years of Scandal and Complaints

A controversial emergency housing facility in Berlin’s Rainbow District, often called the 'Gypsy Hotel,' has been temporarily shut down. The closure follows repeated complaints about hygiene violations, pest infestations, and alleged welfare fraud. Authorities evacuated the last 28 residents as investigations continue into the facility’s operations.

The hotel had served as emergency accommodation since 2015, initially housing migrants before later taking in homeless individuals. Over the past year, police were called to the site 102 times, responding to reports of noise, waste dumping, and aggressive behaviour from neighbours.

The shutdown of the 'Gypsy Hotel' marks the end of a long-running controversy over its management and conditions. District officials must now address both the redistribution of former residents and the broader concerns about emergency housing standards. The investigation into welfare fraud and financial mismanagement is still ongoing.