corporate landlords

A far-left party has won the Berlin election, campaigning on a pledge to nationalise housing in a city grappling with soaring rents and a chronic shortage of affordable flats. The result signals strong voter appetite for radical housing policy in the German capital and is likely to reignite debate over expropriating large corporate landlords.

Democrats and Republicans are showing rare bipartisan agreement on measures to limit corporate ownership of residential housing. Lawmakers from both parties have voiced concern that large investors buying up homes are driving up rents and pricing out ordinary buyers, fueling talk of new restrictions on corporate landlords. The issue is drawing attention as housing affordability remains a top voter concern.