{
  "id": 15615918,
  "title": "Immobilien: Wie die Wohnungskonzerne die neuen Enteignungspläne in Berlin bewerten",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/immobilien-wie-die-wohnungskonzerne-die-neuen-enteignungsplane-in",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-19T14:59:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/finanzen/immobilien/immobilien-wie-die-wohnungskonzerne-die-neuen-enteignungsplaene-bewerten/100263280.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "Deutschland's largest residential company Vonovia maintains that the new plans to merge large residential portfolios in Berlin are unconstitutional, according to a statement following a request for information from Handelsblatt. Meanwhile, Sweden's Heimstaden remains calm, while other major landlords avoid public statements. The left, green, and social democratic parties reached a tentative roadmap on the weekend, planning to acquire private residential companies with a portfolio of 10,000 dwellings in Berlin in exchange for compensation. Vonovia, Germany's largest private landlord, is convinced that a merger in the proposed manner would be unconstitutional and unenforceable in court. The company is particularly affected by such statutory regulations, as it is the largest private landlord in the capital. The political debate also warns of the consequences for residential construction, emphasizing the need for significant private investments to overcome the housing shortage in Berlin. To achieve this, reliability, legal certainty, and a stable investment climate are prerequisites. Vonovia stresses its role as both a landlord and builder, with an average rent of 8.26 euros per square meter in its Berlin holdings and around 1,000 apartments currently under construction. The company reaffirms its commitment to the Berlin housing market, regardless of political debates. Heimstaden, the Swedish residential company, sees no reason to withdraw from the Berlin housing market, stating that it considers decades-long perspectives and makes decisions for generations, both for its existing properties and future developments. The debate over expropriation and merging is not new, and Heimstaden maintains a high level of trust in the German legal system and property protection. The company explicitly confirms its intention to continue investing in Berlin and constructing new residential properties, with around 500 new apartment projects currently underway in the capital. Other major real estate companies, however, prefer to remain silent on the issue. The Adler Group declined to comment on the new merging plans, as did the French real estate company Covivio, which stated it would refrain from commenting or participating in the public categorization of the topic. The lack of public confrontation with Berlin's politics is a sign of how sensitive the debate is for major residential companies. Some landlords deliberately avoid engaging in the conversation to prevent potential legal and economic risks. The exact impact of the new plans on the number of affected apartments remains unclear, with estimates suggesting that up to 160,000 apartments could be taken into public ownership. The left, green, and social democrat parties plan to present a law in Berlin that would come into effect a year after approval, subject to verification by the constitutional court. In the meantime, legal challenges are expected.",
  "summary": "Die neu formulierten Vergesellschaftungspläne in Berlin sorgen für unterschiedliche Reaktionen bei den betroffenen Wohnungskonzernen. Sie setzen vor allem auf eine Institution.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}