{
  "id": 9135633,
  "title": "Merz to ban housing expropriation after die Linke win Berlin",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/merz-to-ban-housing-expropriation-after-die-linke-win-berlin-9135633",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-22T12:04:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IamExpat Germany (News)",
    "slug": "iamexpat-germany-news",
    "url": "https://www.iamexpat.de/housing/property-news/merz-ban-housing-expropriation-after-die-linke-win-berlin"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced plans to fast-track a nationwide ban on housing expropriation following die Linke's historic victory in the Berlin state election on September 20. The left-wing party's campaign focused on implementing the result of the 2021 Deutsche Wohnen & Co Enteignen referendum, which saw 59.1 percent of voters support the nationalisation of over 240,000 housing units owned by private companies. Despite Merz questioning the financial feasibility of the expropriation, the federal government has vowed to move quickly and establish legal clarity at the federal level to maintain the attractiveness of the German property market for investors. An expert panel appointed by Berlin's former SPD-Greens-die Linke coalition concluded that the purchase would not lead to financial ruin for the state government, as it would not have to pay the current market price to acquire the over 240,000 flats. The panel also emphasized that constructing new properties is not a long-term solution to Berlin's housing crisis and would not provide a permanent supply of affordable housing.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Handelsblatt",
        "title": "Debatte in Berlin: Linke: Bund kommt mit Verbot von Enteignung nicht durch",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/debatte-in-berlin-linke-bund-kommt-mit-verbot-von-enteignung-nicht",
        "published": "2026-09-22T10:48:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "IamExpat Germany (All Germany News)",
        "title": "Merz to ban housing expropriation after die Linke win Berlin",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/merz-to-ban-housing-expropriation-after-die-linke-win-berlin",
        "published": "2026-09-22T12:04:41.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}