Finding a place to live can be difficult enough. Discrimination can make it even harder. Many people report being turned down because their name is seen as non-German or because they have a large family. This is not allowed.
What are my rights in the housing market?
- Grundgesetz (Basic Law), Article 3: All people are equal before the law.
- Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz (AGG) (General Equal Treatment Act): Prohibits discrimination in housing
- Landesantidiskriminierungsgesetz (LADG, Berlin) (Berlin State Anti-Discrimination Act): Protects you from discrimination by public bodies in the State of Berlin. This also includes state-owned housing companies such as degewo, Gewobag, HOWOGE, STADT UND LAND, WBM and GESOBAU.
- BGB (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch) (German Civil Code): Regulates rental agreements and protects tenants and applicants from being unfairly rejected
What are examples of discrimination?
- Not receiving a reply to your housing inquiry because your name is perceived as non-German
- Being turned down because you have children
- Being offered less favorable rental terms because you belong to a particular group
- Being turned down, only to see the same property advertised again shortly afterwards
- Being asked about your background, religion, plans to have children or German language skills when these are not relevant to the decision to rent the property
- Being turned down because you or your family “doesn’t fit in”
- Repeated or unfounded complaints about noise, or other forms of harassment by neighbours because of your background, religion or other personal characteristics
For more examples, see fairmieten-fairwohnen
Where can I get help if I experience discrimination?
The Landesstelle für Gleichbehandlung – gegen Diskriminierung (Berlin State Office for Equal Treatment and Against Discrimination) can help you find the right counseling center.
What can I do if I experience discrimination in the housing market?
If you need support, contact a counseling center or a lawyer. You can take the following steps:
- Collect information: Record the incident as precisely as possible (date, location, people involved, and what happened) and keep any evidence (for example: messages, photos, witnesses)
- Contact a counseling center: Find a suitable counseling center (for example: Fair mieten - Fair wohnen) and make an appointment — often by phone, email, or online
- Get an initial consultation: During a first consultation, you will get an assessment of your situation and information about your rights and options
- Decide on the next steps: Together, you can decide whether you would like to file a complaint, seek mediation, or take legal action
- Get legal help: If necessary, a lawyer can help you enforce your rights and claims.
Check your case with the Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes (Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency).
Locations in this map
Fair mieten – Fair wohnen
Show on mapThe Berlin office against discrimination on the housing market advises and accompanies people free of charge who are discriminated against on the basis of (ascribed) origin, language, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age or social status.
- Writing letters of complaint,
- referral to further support services
- Accompaniment to talks
- assistance in court.
Consultation by appointment via contact form on our website or telephone
Oranienstraße 53
10969 Berlin
Germany
[DeepL:] By appointment
LADG-Ombudsstelle
Show on mapDie LADG-Ombudsstelle ist die zentrale Beratungs- und Schlichtungsstelle des Landes Berlin bei Diskriminierung. Sie wurde 2020 eingerichtet und ist bei der Landesstelle für Gleichbehandlung – gegen Diskriminierung des Berliner Senats angesiedelt. Die Ombudsstelle berät und unterstützt Bürger*innen bei der Durchsetzung Ihrer Rechte nach dem Berliner Landes-Antidiskriminierungs-Gesetz (LADG).
Die Ombudsstelle bietet eine unabhängige, kostenlose und vertrauliche Einschätzung Ihres Falles im Rahmen einer Erstberatung. Die Ombudsstelle kann gegenüber der öffentlichen Stelle schlichtend tätig werden, wenn die Betroffenen dies wünschen. Ob eine Diskriminierung vorliegt und ob wir schlichtend tätig werden, entscheiden wir auf Grundlage der Vorgaben des LADG unabhängig in freier Beweiswürdigung.
Telefonische Terminvergabe für Beratungstermine:
Dienstag: 9:00 – 13:00
Donnerstag: 12:00 – 16:00
Offene Telefonberatung:
Mittwoch: 13:00 – 17:00
Alt-Moabit 59-61
10555 Berlin
Deutschland
