No fear of the big landlord: how a Berlin tenant saves €120 a month
This Berlin tenant knew his rent was unlawfully high even before he moved in. So after signing the lease, he used CONNY to enforce the rent control (Mietpreisbremse). Now he can look forward to an extra €120 in his account every month. He wasn't afraid of standing up to a large housing company. “To my landlord, I'm just a small fish,” he was certain.
How was CONNY able to help you?
By reducing my rent on the basis of the rent control.
What was your problem, and how did you become aware of CONNY?
I already knew when I moved in that my rent was above the maximum permissible rent under the Berlin rent index (Mietspiegel). But I didn't want to raise the possibility of a rent reduction with the landlord during the viewing or when signing the lease. I was afraid I wouldn't get the apartment then. So I looked for a way to reduce my rent after signing the lease. I heard about CONNY through friends.
What concerns did you have before engaging CONNY? Were you afraid of confronting your landlord, for example? What became of those fears?
I had no concerns about engaging CONNY. My landlord is one of the largest landlords in the capital. To them, I'm just a small fish – so I wasn't worried that enforcing my rights would lead to any personal disadvantages.
What was the process like for you, and how much rent were you able to save?
All I had to do was upload my lease – CONNY took care of every further step for me and kept me regularly informed about the current status. In the end, I was able to save around €120 a month.
What is your conclusion from your experience with CONNY? What would you like to pass on to others in a similar situation?
I'm very satisfied with everything – the cost transparency, my contact person, the professionalism and the final rent reduction. I can only advise all tenants living in an overpriced apartment to have the rent control enforced professionally.