Berlin, June 2025 – The Berlin housing crisis has hit a boiling point as renters report extreme competition, record-high prices, and a collapse in available listings for apartments, rooms, and sublets. According to recent data, average rental prices have jumped over 20% year-on-year, with some inner-city neighborhoods seeing monthly rents of over €1,800 for a one-bedroom flat.
Sublet scams are also on the rise, with fake listings flooding platforms like WG-Gesucht and Craigslist. “It’s like the Hunger Games,” said one 27-year-old student who’s been couch-surfing for months despite holding a full-time job.
Experts warn that unless major reforms are introduced—including rent caps, construction incentives, and better enforcement of rental fraud—Berlin could lose the affordability that once made it a global magnet for creatives, students, and young professionals.