Germany’s highest court rules Berlin rent cap illegal

Decision to overturn state law deals blow to campaigners' hopes of keeping city affordable

Germany's highest court has ruled that a rent cap imposed by the Berlin state government is illegal, dealing a huge blow to those who have campaigned to keep the city affordable.

The constitutional court in Karlsruhe overturned the law on Thursday, saying lawmakers in the state had no right to instigate the law, one of the most controversial and debated pieces of legislation in recent years.