City of Berlin backs plan to freeze rents for five years

German capital's government agrees outlines of law in effort to halt runaway gentrification

Berlin's government has agreed to freeze rents in the German capital for five years from 2020 in the city's latest attempt to halt runaway gentrification.

Once described as "poor but sexy", Berlin's housing costs have doubled over the last decade as employees lured by the strong job market move into the city.