Berlin's rental crisis deepens as new contracts hit €9.54 per square metre

Tenants in Berlin face skyrocketing costs as demand crushes supply. With vacancy rates at just 1.6%, finding an affordable home feels impossible for many.

, and Administrator

2026 March 4 . 8:19 AM

1 min read

The image shows a plan of a large building with a lot of rooms, including the ground floor plan of... — The image shows a plan of a large building with a lot of rooms, including the ground floor plan of the Schloss Berlin. The paper has text written on it, providing further details about the layout of the building.

Berlin Rents Continue to Rise - New Buildings Particularly Expensive - Berlin's rental crisis deepens as new contracts hit €9.54 per square metre

Berlin's rental market saw another year of rising costs in 2023. Average rents for existing tenancies reached €7.10 per square metre, while new contracts with BBU-affiliated landlords climbed to €9.54. The city's ongoing housing shortage continues to push prices upwards, with vacancy rates remaining critically low at just 1.6%.

The gap between rents for new and existing contracts widened further. Newly built apartments commanded the highest average price at €13.55 per square metre. Meanwhile, listings on major online portals showed even steeper figures, averaging €16.61 per square metre. When excluding BBU members' offers, advertised rents jumped to €18.76.

BBU member companies, which manage around 777,000 apartments, control roughly 45% of Berlin's rental stock. Despite their significant share, the overall market remains under pressure. No exact figures exist on how many apartments are rented through online platforms, nor which districts have the highest prices.

The core issue remains a lack of available housing. With demand far outstripping supply, tenants face limited options and rising costs across the city.

Berlin's rental crisis shows no signs of easing, with rents for new contracts and advertised listings far exceeding those for existing tenancies. The city's vacancy rate of 1.6% highlights the persistent shortage, leaving many residents struggling to find affordable homes. Without a significant increase in housing supply, prices are likely to keep climbing.