Vonovia criticizes rent brake as "socially blind"

Vonovia’s head of human resources, Ruth Werhahn, has spoken out against Germany’s current rent control policy. She described the existing system as flawed and called for a different approach to tackling the housing crisis.

Werhahn criticised the Mietpreisbremse (rent brake), arguing that it fails to target those most in need. According to her, the policy is 'socially blind' because it does not specifically shield lower-income households from rising costs.

She also linked Berlin’s push for expropriating large housing providers to the wider debate on affordability. However, she stressed that new construction—not stricter rent controls—remains the best long-term solution. Despite her concerns, Werhahn backs the federal government’s efforts to prevent rent gouging. She positioned Vonovia, Germany’s largest residential landlord, as part of the answer to the housing shortage. The company has been expanding its development projects to increase supply. The federal government oversees the *Mietpreisbremse* as a national law, following a 2021 ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court. The court struck down Berlin’s *Mietendeckel* (rent cap), confirming that states lack the authority to impose their own rent controls.

Werhahn’s remarks highlight ongoing tensions over how to address Germany’s housing shortages. While she opposes the current rent brake, she supports measures against excessive rent hikes and pushes for more construction. The debate comes as Berlin continues to face legal limits on local rent regulation.