This question to landlords in Berlin and Brandenburg was a tough one: "Would you make use of the possibility of lowering the heating temperature, even if it weren't officially prescribed?" asked the Association of Berlin-Brandenburg Housing Companies (BBU) its members. BBU board member Maren Kern presented the answers on Wednesday in Berlin. They turn out mixed. You can only reassure tenants to a limited extent.
Just over half of the landlords surveyed are against reducing the heating without corresponding political specifications (52.6 percent). At the same time, more than a third (36.9 percent) support this throttling at their own initiative. Almost 10 percent of the BBU members, who represent companies with around one million apartments in Berlin and Brandenburg, did not want to provide any information on this sensitive issue.
Surveys and forecasts by housing associations have received socio-political explosives in view of the massively increasing energy prices. Kern therefore spoke of "dramatic developments" in her presentation of the results of the survey on Wednesday. Around 85 percent of the Berlin BBU member companies stated that the suppliers had raised energy prices since the beginning of 2022 - by values of up to 300 percent.
The question of the increased heating costs and how landlords want to deal with them in the future was at the center of their remarks. In addition to the assessment of the landlords, the housing association from Berlin and Brandenburg also presented solutions on how tenants should deal with the energy crisis.
The majority of the companies surveyed assume that the room temperature in rented apartments can be lowered without any major resistance from the tenants. 64 percent of those surveyed expect that tenants would at least accept such measures. Only every tenth surveyed landlord from Berlin and Brandenburg expects considerable resistance. The abstention also shows how sensitive the topic is: a quarter did not want to give an assessment.
However, the survey also shows that the housing companies are already proactively taking precautions for the probable explosion in heating costs in winter. 87 percent of the BBU members stated that they had offered tenants an increase in heating cost advance payments in order to avoid larger additional claims. A good third of landlords in Berlin and Brandenburg have not yet done so, but plan to do so. Just under every tenth housing company does not want to make this offer to its tenants.
In view of the development of energy costs, Maren Kern made a clear appeal to the tenants. "Put on reserves!" It said in her presentation. In addition, BBU association leader Kern spoke out in favor of optimizing the heating systems. This would bring 15 percent of energy saving potential. Kern also spoke out in favor of sensitizing and advising tenants on the subject of saving energy. This can also lead to savings of 15 percent.
Kern presented “terrifying figures” on the construction activity of municipal housing companies and cooperatives in Berlin and Brandenburg. Because it has collapsed massively. For the first time in eight years, there was a decline in building completions. Around 20 percent fewer apartments were completed in 2021 than in the previous year. In addition, 20 percent of planned new buildings would not be implemented, and 16 percent of these new building projects would be delayed.
However, amid the dramatic prospects for tenants when it comes to heating, Kern also presented some positive news. Existing rents in Berlin are 6.41 euros net per square meter despite the massive cost increases. This is just below the Berlin rent index of 6.79 euros in 2021. Individually, higher rents may be required due to modernization, furnishing or the like.
This means that rents in the capital have increased by only one percent per year compared to the "before the rent cap year" 2019. For comparison: in 2021 general inflation was 2.8 percent and thus almost three times as high as the development of rents. Vacancies (2021: 1.6 percent) and fluctuation (5.3 percent) also remained stable. Kern: "Our companies ensure good living in Berlin."
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