In May, the Berlin x London im Dialog series opened with a discussion on one of the city’s most pressing challenges: housing.

Now, we are taking another look.

In our new policy paper, Dr. Robert Keeling revisits the discussion from the event “The Berlin Housing Crisis – A View from Outside” and brings together its key arguments, questions and perspectives.

The paper goes beyond a summary of the evening. It looks at how Berlin’s housing situation has developed, what is at stake when affordable housing becomes increasingly difficult to access, and what housing policy can tell us about democracy, social cohesion and the good life.

The discussion raised questions that remain highly relevant:

Who is Berlin for?

What happens when housing increasingly becomes a financial asset rather than a place to live?

Can democratic decision-making effectively shape a housing market under strong economic pressures?

And what can Berlin learn from other cities — particularly London and Vienna?

The paper revisits these questions through contributions from Dr. Joanna Kusiak and Dr. Tim White, as well as the lively discussion with the Berlin audience. It also explores further thoughts that emerged from the debate — from furnished temporary housing and the financialisation of housing to public ownership, tenant protections, gentrification and the role of direct democracy.

Rather than offering a single answer, the paper asks what kind of city Berlin wants to be — and what political, social and democratic choices are needed to shape that future.

Part of LondonBerlinDemocracy, a difgl initiative exploring what Berlin and London can learn from each other about democracy, society and the conditions for a good life.