Baden-Württemberg
Expropriate housing corporations: will renting become cheaper as a result?
Published September 23, 2026

Real game changer or just symbol politics? What's up with the idea of socializing housing corporations?
Plusminus. The ARD Business Podcast
Expropriate housing corporations: will renting become cheaper as a result?
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Version
9/24/2026, 12:01 AM
From
Auteur
Leonie Thim
Real game changer or just symbol politics? What's up with the idea of socializing housing corporations?
Berlin's "Die Linke" party wants to expropriate housing corporations. But would renting really make it cheaper? We examine what the plan would mean for tenants, the housing market and the state and why experts doubt the effect. In addition, we are looking at other ways out of the housing crisis and at a smart idea that could quickly create new living space.
🔗 Further information and sources can be found here:
Landesrechnungshof Berlin 2024: Advisory report on the impact of a socialisation of large housing companies on the state budget.
Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft Köln: Auswirkungen der Vergesellschaftung privater Wohnungsunternehmen in Berlin.
Die Linke - Landesverband Berlin: Affordable rents for everyone! Socialization makes it possible.
ARD Sounds: Our plus/minus sequence on the rental price brake.
NDR Info: Podcast "Ten Minutes of Economics".
*First name:
Hosts: Anna Planken @anna.planken & David Ahlf @davidihrswisst
Author: Leonie Thim
Expert: Interview with Prof. Rudolph Hierl, Architect, Munich
Editor of this episode: Christian Sachsinger
Technique: Johannes Kabatnik
Distribution: Pola Nathusius, Joshua Ehrenberg, Fabio Homann
Graphic: Matthias Recht, Marcel Carlberg
Product team: Sina Rosenkranz, Anna Siefert, Sarah Pache, Lena Appel, Katharina Fortenbacher-Jahn
Head: Julia Görs, Silvia Renauer, Frank Christian Starke
Contact:
Do you have any questions, feedback or ideas? Write to us at: plusminuspodcast@ard.de. We look forward to it!
The podcast "Plusminus. More than just economy" is a joint production of BR, SWR and WDR and belongs to the Plusminus brand family.
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🎧 Our Podcast Tip: Ten Minutes of Economics
So and now a small recommendation from us. We had discussed the status of the tank discount, as the discharge is now a decided matter. But what about heating oil, gas and electricity? Here, too, it will be more expensive for many households. This week, colleagues from the podcast "Ten Minutes of Economics" have researched why energy prices react differently and what all this means for your wallet. In this podcast, you will receive a short and understandable explanation of complex economic topics on a daily basis. Every afternoon from Monday to Friday in ARD Sounds and wherever there are podcasts.
First published on
9/24/2026, 12:01 AM
Version
9/24/2026, 12:01 AM
Moderator
Anna Planks
David Ahlf
Interview with
Prof. Rudolph Hierl
Auteur
Leonie Thim
editor
Christian Sachsinger
Instead of...