Hamburg-Nord: First tenant summit against rising rents!

Hamburg-Nord: First tenant summit against rising rents!

The first tenant networking meeting took place in Hamburg-Nord on January 15, 2026, which was very well received and impressively reflected the concerns of the participants. Organized by the party Die Linke, the meeting showed that the need for exchange, support and joint organization in the city is high. Many of those present reported rising rents, insecurity and the threat of displacement. The urgency of solidarity became clear and the aim of the meeting became clear: to develop joint steps and strategies to meet the challenges of the housing market. In order to further advance this idea, the initiative invites all interested tenants to take active action to improve their own situation. The next meeting will take place on February 9, 2026 at 6:30 p.m., where, among other things, door-to-door discussions and information stands are planned.

Inspired by this conscious exchange, the demands of a broader movement come into focus that is declaring war on the problem of the loss of affordable housing in Germany. According to the Stop the housing shortage initiative This loss is a key issue that affects hundreds of thousands of tenants. Conversions of rental houses into condominiums and terminations for personal use are at the forefront of this problem. The connection to the participants' stories at the networking meeting is clear: these conversions and the associated terminations are often the result of a long process of exploitation that forces many people out of their long-standing homes.

Own needs and conversion – an urgent problem

The topic of terminations for personal use runs through the entire tenancy law and shows parallels to the wishes and needs of Hamburg tenants. Sebastian from the Pankow Initiative Against Displacement reports on his personal experience with a termination in Prenzlauer Berg, where the prospect of success for his lawsuit looks rather poor. “Today’s terminations for personal use are often the result of the transformations that have taken place in the last few decades,” he says the taz. Many of those affected give up or accept compensation because the chances of success in court are often weak. According to estimates by the Berlin Tenants' Association, more than 10,000 households in Berlin are affected by such terminations every year.

The “Stop the housing shortage” initiative calls for comprehensive measures at all political levels to make the municipal right of first refusal functional again. Political pressure, both at federal and state level, is becoming increasingly explosive in view of the impending expiry of the conversion ban introduced in 2021. The alliance consists of city administrations, tenant associations, initiatives and tenants affected by displacement who are working together to reform the legislation. Preserving living space must come first because ultimately it is about ensuring that everyone can stay in their homes.

The path to solidarity

As the networking meeting in Hamburg-Nord demonstrated so vividly, the first step towards change is collective action. The initiative asks tenants not only to exchange ideas about their individual experiences, but also to actively participate in political discourse. This is done through concrete workshops and actions that bring policymakers on board and push for the need for change.

Together with a multitude of voices from civil society, it shows that tenants in Hamburg and beyond are not alone. Every meeting and every discussion helps to strengthen support and make more people aware of the need to maintain affordable housing. “We are fighting for a city worth living in for everyone,” explains one participant passionately. And that's exactly what it's all about: creating a future in which everyone has a place.