> Why is it so hard to get an apartment in Berlin that people resort to bribing the landlords?
Why does one have to "compete" against dozens of other people, with zero ability to negotiate and having to sacrifice their financial privacy?
Low supply. You are not fixing that with a rent-freeze, you are making it worse.
> Last I read about it these companies had record profits and now you and others are complaining that they won't build any more because they can't get profits? How's that work, mate?
These companies, especially Vonovia, will continue to make a profit for their shareholders, even if they take a hit because their assets in Berlin devaluate. They just will not invest further in Berlin, won't build/buy&renovate housing.
If I were a shareholder in Vonovia i'd be pretty concerned of them taking such a risk, I wouldn't want them to invest in Venezuela either.
Yeah that's what I was hinting at (one has to read the entire paragraph): rent control or no rent control, the situation already sucks both for existing tenants and people that are looking for new apartments. Might as well protect existing tenants, since new tenants are screwed anyway.
Low supply. You are not fixing that with a rent-freeze, you are making it worse.
> Last I read about it these companies had record profits and now you and others are complaining that they won't build any more because they can't get profits? How's that work, mate?
These companies, especially Vonovia, will continue to make a profit for their shareholders, even if they take a hit because their assets in Berlin devaluate. They just will not invest further in Berlin, won't build/buy&renovate housing.
If I were a shareholder in Vonovia i'd be pretty concerned of them taking such a risk, I wouldn't want them to invest in Venezuela either.