ABOUT US
We, the “Berlin Alliance against Vonovia and Co.”, are an association of many tenant initiatives in Berlin. Together we are fighting against the systematic exploitation by our landlord, Deutsche Wohnen and Vonovia.
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
A first alliance of tenants against Deutsche Wohnen & Co. emerged as early as 2016: the "Deutsche Wohnen Tenants' Protest". However, this came to a quiet end with the Corona pandemic.
In the fall of 2023, many Berlin tenants of Deutsche Wohnen and Vonovia received high heating bills, even though significant energy conservation measures and freezing temperatures had been implemented almost everywhere in 2022. For many tenants, the situation seemed hopeless and threatening their livelihoods. But instead of despairing, we joined forces and organized.
Thus, the "Berlin Alliance against Vonovia & Co." was formed in December 2023. Since then, we have grown and now represent over 20 tenant initiatives from 11 Berlin districts.
How we support each other:
through the exchange of experiences in dealing with Vonovia and similar companies, and mutual help with specific problems with our landlord.
through actions and demonstrations, such as our protest rallies against the “heating cost madness” at the beginning of 2024 and the large “rent demonstration” in June 2024
through discussions with the press and politicians, to bring our concerns to the public's attention.
through support and accompaniment during legal proceedings, so that no one is left alone
by supporting the development of new tenant initiatives - because only if we organize ourselves throughout the city do we have a chance!
Since our founding in December 2023, we have already achieved a great deal:
An alliance has been established with initiatives from 11 Berlin districts.
Together with over 1,000 tenants, we filed an objection against skyrocketing operating and heating costs. As a result, the bills were revised downwards several times, in one case by €800,000.
Protests and research have brought Vonovia's "heat contracting" to the forefront of public opinion.
Supported in fighting against illegal rent increases by Deutsche Wohnen and Vonovia - saving over €10,000 in rent per year.
Our press work has contributed to Vonovia now refraining from illegal rent increases based on "fictitious features".
We have established a self-help network where we support each other with problems involving our landlord.
We are supported by the neighborhood project , the Berlin Tenants' Association , and the "Expropriate Deutsche Wohnen & Co." initiative. We are also part of the nationwide tenants' alliance VoNo!via&Co .
