BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - After its failed legislative initiative against rent gouging, the Left Party aims to draw national attention to the issue through a nationwide campaign. Among other measures, the party plans to organize tenant assemblies in 80 locations across Germany. Tenants will be able to have their rents checked to see if they are excessively high compared to local rates and to verify the accuracy of their heating bills.
On Thursday, the Left Party's proposal to impose stricter penalties for rent gouging was rejected. Party leader Jan van Aken criticized the CSU for voting against the plan in the Bundestag, despite CSU leader Markus Soder, as Bavarian state premier, having launched a similar initiative in the Bundesrat.
"Rent gouging is the scheme of criminal landlords to squeeze as much money as possible from tenants," van Aken said. "That is why we want penalties that really hurt. Anyone who disregards the law and charges illegal high rents should in the future face a fine of 100,000 euros."
