HOWOGE Wohnungsbaugesellschaft mbH, a state-owned Berlin company, will begin letting a total of 388 newly constructed residential units in Berlin in the coming weeks. These projects are located in the districts of Hellersdorf, Lichtenberg and Köpenick. The offering includes flats with one to five rooms, with almost half of the units being publicly subsidised and thus available to households holding a WBS (housing eligibility certificate).
In addition to creating affordable housing, emphasis is placed on neighbourhood development at all three locations. Play and exercise areas, green open spaces and facilities designed to engage the community are being created. Inga Stein-Barthelmes, Managing Director of HOWOGE, stressed that approximately half of the new flats in Berlin are being realised by state-owned housing companies, despite challenging conditions. She highlighted the necessity of every new flat, particularly for providing for households with low and middle incomes. Furthermore, each new build project aims to add value to its respective neighbourhood, for example, by providing communal spaces, local amenities and social infrastructure.
Three Locations in Focus for Letting
The letting of 167 flats on Schkeuditzer Straße in Hellersdorf will kick off proceedings, starting on 6th October. These flats are also designed with one to five rooms, with 84 units being subsidised. All flats are barrier-free and feature a balcony or terrace. Additionally, approximately 670 square metres of play and exercise areas are being created. The seven-storey building is expected to be completed by mid-October, with initial occupancy scheduled for November 2026.
Subsequently, at the end of October, the letting of 173 flats at Rosenfelder Ring 86/88 in Lichtenberg will commence. These are also one to five-room units; 87 of which are subsidised. A special feature is 23 maisonette flats, located in a two-storey part of the building at the front. A neighbourhood square, a green inner courtyard, and further play and exercise areas will serve as places for recreation and social interaction. Construction work in Lichtenberg is expected to be completed by the end of December, with the first tenancy agreements due to begin in February 2027.
At the end of November, the letting of 48 flats on Mahlower Straße in Köpenick will follow. These units offer one to four rooms, with half being subsidised. Play and exercise areas as well as a sheltered neighbourhood meeting point are planned in the garden area. Commercial uses for a childcare facility, a doctor's surgery and a HOWOGE service point are planned for the ground floor. The first flats in Köpenick are expected to be occupied after completion of the work in February 2027.
Subsidised Housing for Various Income Groups
Approximately half of the flats on offer are publicly subsidised and are aimed at households holding a WBS (housing eligibility certificate). Eligibility extends to various WBS levels, from 100 to 220, depending on household income and household size. This allows HOWOGE to offer subsidised housing not only for low-income households but also for those with middle incomes. For example, a single-person household with a monthly net income of up to 1,800 EUR can receive a WBS 180. For a WBS 220, the guideline for a single-person household is up to 2,200 EUR. A four-person household with two children can also claim a WBS 220 with a monthly net income of approximately 5,000 EUR.
