Berlin Left, Greens, SPD Agree to Expropriate 160,000 Apartments, Start Coalition Talks
Berlin's Left party, Greens and SPD concluded exploratory talks on October 17, 2026, agreeing to begin coalition negotiations for a new state government. Their 25-page paper, "More Together. More Berlin," commits to a socialization law by mid-2028 targeting private landlords owning more than 10,000 apartments, affecting roughly 160,000 units held by Vonovia, Heimstaden, Covivio, Adler and likely DVI. Compensation is capped at €16 billion, with post-2021 buildings exempt. The deal also includes 100,000 new homes by 2031, rent caps for state-owned housing, and policing and climate measures.
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Berlin Coalition Talks Agree on Expropriation of Large Housing Firms
The Berlin branches of the Left Party, Greens, and SPD successfully concluded exploratory talks and will begin coalition negotiations for a new state government. Their 25-page agreement, titled 'More Together. More Berlin,' includes a commitment to pass a law by mid-2028 to socialize real estate companies owning more than 10,000 apartments in the city, a compromise from the 3,000-unit threshold demanded in a 2021 referendum. The deal also includes building 100,000 affordable homes by 2031, allowing state-owned housing firms to raise rents by up to 2% annually, rejecting the A100 highway extension, and not building on the Tempelhofer Feld edge. The parties also agreed to push for a wealth tax and inheritance tax reform. The article frames this as a potential model for left-wing politics nationally.
Read sourceBerlin Left, Greens, SPD Agree on Expropriation Deal to Start Coalition Talks
Berlin's Left party, Greens, and SPD announced on October 17, 2026, that they will begin coalition negotiations after reaching a compromise on the contentious issue of expropriating large housing companies. Left party leader Elif Eralp said a socialization law will be presented to the Berlin House of Representatives by mid-2028, with implementation a year later, targeting companies owning more than 10,000 apartments—affecting Vonovia, Heimstaden, Covivio, Alder, and likely DVI, totaling about 160,000 units. SPD leader Steffen Krach, previously opposed, called it an "absolutely defensible compromise" with compensation capped at €16 billion and new buildings from 2021 exempt. The 25-page exploratory paper also covers rent caps, 100,000 new homes by 2031, climate goals, and measures against antisemitism, including a joint expert panel to assess incidents in coalition factions.
Read sourceBerlin Left, Greens, SPD Agree on Expropriation, Start Coalition Talks
Berlin's Left, Greens, and SPD parties announced an agreement to begin coalition negotiations after reaching a compromise on the contentious issue of expropriating large housing companies. The deal, outlined in a 25-page exploratory paper titled 'More Together, More Berlin,' includes a plan to present an expropriation law to the state parliament by mid-2028, targeting companies with over 10,000 apartments, including Vonovia, Heimstaden, Covivio, and Adler. Compensation would be capped at €16 billion, and buildings constructed after 2021 would be exempt. SPD leader Steffen Krach called it a 'absolutely defensible compromise.' The parties also agreed on rent caps for state-owned housing, a goal of 100,000 new homes by 2031, and measures on climate, transport, and antisemitism. The talks had been briefly suspended over internal Left party disputes.
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Berlin SPD, Greens and Left Reach Exploratory Deal on Housing and Policing
In Berlin, the SPD, Greens and Left party have concluded their exploratory talks, according to WELT. The parties plan to build 100,000 new apartments and to introduce a socialization law from mid-2028 targeting private companies that own 10,000 or more apartments. The plans also include strengthening the Berlin police and promoting corporate relocations to the city. The report describes the outcome as a compromise that participants called absolutely acceptable, though no further details on financing, timing or legislative mechanics are provided in the source.
Berlin Left Party Announces 'Embracing Politics' and Plan to Expropriate 160,000 Apartments
Exploratory talks between the Left Party (Linke), Greens, and SPD in Berlin have concluded, with party representatives presenting a joint exploratory paper. Left Party politician Elif Eralp announced plans for a rent cap, a special prosecution unit against rent gouging, and a socialization law to be presented to the Berlin House of Representatives by mid-2028. The law would expropriate private housing corporations owning more than 10,000 apartments in Berlin, with compensation, allowing them to retain a base stock of 10,000 units. Eralp stated this would remove approximately 160,000 apartments from market logic to ensure affordable rents and curb speculation. The coalition also plans to reduce social ticket costs, reintroduce free museum Sundays, and pass democracy and culture promotion laws. Eralp emphasized an 'embracing politics' to counter polarization and pledged action against antisemitism, anti-Muslim racism, and other forms of discrimination. Whether formal coalition negotiations begin depends on party committee approvals, with the Greens scheduling a small party congress and the Left Party waiting until October 31.
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