Politics · Germany · 1 hr ago
Economist Isabella Weber backs bringing large Berlin landlords into public ownership
Economist Isabella Weber has backed bringing large private housing companies in Berlin into public ownership.
She said the companies have market power and that a public landlord could make it easier to limit rents.
Weber said this would not mean abolishing the market, but adding a public actor to it.
The proposal is part of a debate over housing policy as Berlin's Left Party negotiates with the Greens and Social Democrats to form a state government.
The Left campaigned on taking over a large housing company.
Weber said public ownership alone would not create new homes, so the state would also need to invest and take other measures.
The coalition talks are under way, but the sources do not say what decision will be made on the proposal.
Economist Isabella Weber says Berlin’s large private housing companies should be brought into public ownership because they have market power.
She says public ownership could make it easier to cap rents.
Weber says this would not build new homes, which would require state investment and other policy measures.
She argues the goal is not to abolish the market but to create a public actor within it.
Her comments come as Die Linke negotiates with the Greens and Social Democrats to form a Berlin government.
- Who
- Economist Isabella Weber supports bringing Berlin’s large housing companies into public ownership.
- What
- She says this could make rent caps easier to enforce.
- When
- 12 October 2026.
- Where
- Berlin, Germany.
- Why
- Weber says private housing companies have market power.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
In Berlin, private companies have market power, therefore it makes sense to bring Berlin’s housing companies into public ownership. That makes it easier to cap rents.
Of course, public ownership does not build new homes; for that, the state must provide investment and take other policy measures.
I do not want to abolish the market, but to create a public actor that participates in the market.
Die Linke won the election in part on a pledge to expropriate a large housing company.
Weber spoke in support of bringing Berlin’s housing companies into public ownership as Die Linke negotiated with the Greens and Social Democrats to form a government.
- Economist
- Isabella Weber
- Date of article
- 12 October 2026
- Berlin coalition talks
- Die Linke, the Greens and the Social Democrats
- Policy proposal
- Bring large housing companies into public ownership
- Weber’s stated reason
- Private housing companies have market power
Sources
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