INFORMATION FOR TENANTS
In the "Berlin Alliance against Vonovia and Co.," we support each other by sharing experiences in dealing with our landlords. Because whether in Zehlendorf, Neukölln, Pankow, or Marzahn: the nasty tricks are often the same!
Here you will find information on how to defend yourself against some of the most common problems with Vonovia and similar companies:
Rent increases
Viele Mieterhöhungen von Vonovia und Co verstoßen gegen geltendes Recht. So hat der Immobilienkonzern seit Sommer 2024 zehntausende Mieterhöhungen in Berlin verschickt, die mit dem neuen Mietspiegel begründet wurden. Als Merkmale, die den Wohnwert erhöhen sollen, wurden dabei immer wieder eine “gute ÖPNV-Anbindung” und eine “gute Nahversorgung” genannt - obwohl diese gar nicht im Mietspiegel stehen.
Im Klartext: Vonovia hat massenhaft Fantasie-Merkmale erfunden, um die Mieten um jeden Preis zu erhöhen! Zum Glück haben sich viele Mieter:innen dagegen gewehrt und den Mieterhöhungen widersprochen. Die Berliner Amtsgerichte haben in allen bekannten Fällen geurteilt, dass diese Mieterhöhungen nicht zulässig sind.
Nach massivem Protest hat Vonovia im November 2025 erklärt, auf die illegalen Mieterhöhungen vorerst zu verzichten und noch laufende Verfahren einzustellen. Alle Mieter:innen, die den falschen Erhöhungen bereits zugestimmt hatten, sollen jedoch weiter zahlen. Das Berliner Bündnis gegen Vonovia und Co fordert, dass Vonovia ALLE Mieterhöhungen wegen Fantasie-Merkmalen zurücknimmt.
Das könnt ihr als Mieter:innen tun, wenn ihr eine Mieterhöhung bekommt:
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Tretet in einen Mieterverein ein (zum Beispiel in den Berliner Mieterverein) und nehmt die Mietrechtsberatung für Mitglieder in Anspruch. Mitglieder im Berliner Mieterverein haben ab drei Monaten nach Eintritt eine Rechtsschutzversicherung und können im Falle von Auseinandersetzungen mit dem Vermieter zur Not auch vor Gericht gehen.
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Nutzt die kostenlosen Mieterberatungen der Berliner Bezirke
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Überprüft die Mieterhöhung selbst mit der Online-Abfrage des Berliner Senats
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Überprüft mit dem Mietencheck von Deutsche Wohnen & Co enteignen, ob eure Miethöhe gegen die Mietpreisbremse verstößt
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Sprecht bei Unstimmigkeiten mit Euren Nachbar:innen, um zu prüfen, ob noch mehr Mieter:innen in Eurem Wohngebiet betroffen sind - denn gemeinsam lässt sich viel effektiver Druck auf Vonovia aufbauen!
Weitere Informationen:
Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe erhalten Ihr zudem in unserem Bündnis. Wir bieten gerne Schulungen an und geben unsere Erfahrungen weiter, wie man sich gegen Mieterhöhungen wehren kann.
Rising operating and heating costs
Operating costs for cold heating have risen significantly at Vonovia in recent years. And heating costs exploded in 2022: tenants in Mariendorf-Ost and on Tempelhofer Damm were sometimes billed €6,000 extra – even though they had used less heating than the previous year! Tenant groups accuse Vonovia of making illegal profits from ancillary costs through services provided by subsidiaries. The so-called "heat contracting" is particularly notorious: Vonovia buys heating energy from an energy supplier in which the corporation typically holds a majority stake. In the winter of 2023/24, the heat supplier G+D in Berlin had to admit to "calculation errors" in heating costs in at least four cases following protests from tenant groups – in one instance, this led to a downward correction of the bill by €800,000. There is a suspicion that these "errors" are systematic.
Tenants' associations are fighting back against rising operating and heating costs by filing joint objections and demanding all supporting documents for their utility and heating bills from the landlord. In some cases, tenants are also exercising their right to withhold payment and refusing to pay additional charges until the landlord has provided all the necessary documentation. In some instances, Vonovia has still not done so, leaving the tenants on a "heating cost strike."
The Berlin alliance against Vonovia and Co. recommends carefully checking operating and heating cost statements before making any required additional payment.
Here's what you can do as a tenant:
Join a tenants' association (for example, the Berlin Tenants' Association ) and take advantage of the free legal advice on tenancy law for members.
Take advantage of the free tenant advisory services offered by Berlin's districts.
Compare your operating and heating costs with the Berlin operating cost index to check whether they are significantly excessive.
In case of above-average or significantly increased costs, or any other discrepancies, request all supporting documents for the relevant cost items. Sample letters can be found, for example, on the website of the Berlin Tenants' Association.
If you have any disagreements, talk to your neighbors. Objections to operating costs can also be submitted as a coordinated group objection. The more neighbors participate, the greater the pressure on Vonovia!
Further information:
The initiatives from our alliance are happy to share their experiences of how they successfully defended themselves against the heating cost madness of Vonovia and Co.
Apartment defects
Elevator broken? Heating broken? Leaky windows? Mold in the apartment? Many tenants are familiar with these problems. And it's systemic: Real estate corporations like Vonovia and others invest significantly less money in maintenance than, for example, cooperatives or state-owned housing companies. In this way, they increase their profits – often at the expense of the tenants.
But tenants don't have to put up with this – they have a right to a defect-free apartment. If a defect is reported to the landlord, they must remedy it within a reasonable timeframe. If the landlord fails to do so, tenants can even sue to have the defects remedied – and in some cases, reduce their rent.
The Berlin alliance against Vonovia and Co. therefore recommends consistently asserting existing tenant rights in case of defects in the apartment or house.
Here's what you as a tenant can do to defend yourself against defects:
Join a tenants' association (for example, the Berlin Tenants' Association ) and take advantage of the free legal advice on tenancy law for members. Members of the Berlin Tenants' Association have legal expenses insurance starting three months after joining and can, if necessary, go to court in the event of disputes with their landlord.
Take advantage of the free tenant advisory services offered by the Berlin districts.
Report any defects to your landlord in writing, request that they be remedied within two weeks, and announce that you will only pay your rent under reservation of rights. Tips and sample letters can be found, for example, on the website of the Berlin Tenants' Association.
For major defects affecting many tenants in the building, talk to your neighbors and organize a joint effort to report them. You can also send coordinated defect reports to the landlord. Experience shows this makes a better impression!
Further information:
Information sheet from the Berlin Tenants' Association: “Apartment defects - when can the rent be reduced?”