Survey: The Debate on Socialization Is Harming Berlin

Civey Survey: 44.8 percent of Berliners believe the capital’s reputation has been damaged | Targeted support and new housing construction are significantly higher priorities than socialization initiatives.

Text Sebastian Thomas | Head of Communications and Marketing

From the perspective of a clear majority of Berliners, the debate over the public ownership of large private housing companies is damaging the city’s reputation as a business hub. 44.8 percent agree with the statement that the current debate is harming Berlin’s image both in Germany and abroad. Only 25.5 percent disagree, while 29.7 percent are undecided. These are the findings of a recent representative Civey survey that we commissioned.

“Berlin is competing for investments, businesses, and skilled workers. A political debate that raises doubts about reliability and property rights far beyond the city’s borders therefore has consequences,” says VBKI President Harald Christ. “The results show that Berliners make a very clear distinction between an effective housing policy and symbolic debates.”

For example, 37.8 percent cite targeted support for low-income households as the top priority for Berlin’s housing policy. 31.2 percent favor expanding the housing supply through new construction. By contrast, only 15.7 percent cite the socialization and transfer of housing to state ownership as a top priority. Making it easier to purchase a home is almost as popular, at 15.3 percent.

A similar picture emerges when it comes to the use of public funds. Education and childcare rank first at 45.2 percent, closely followed by new housing construction at 43.3 percent. Public safety and public services account for 38.3 percent, while infrastructure expansion and renovation account for 30.6 percent. By contrast, only 22.4 percent prioritize the acquisition of existing housing stock by the government.

This focus should also be viewed in light of the tight budget situation. More than half of those surveyed—55 percent—rate the financial situation of the State of Berlin as poor. Only 25 percent rate it as good. To us, this speaks to a particularly responsible and effective use of limited public funds.

At the same time, the survey reveals a significant lack of information. While 40.9 percent feel well-informed about the specific implementation plans and possible consequences of socialization, 28 percent rate their level of information as poor, and another 31.1 percent are undecided.

About the Survey: We commissioned Civey to survey Berlin residents aged 16 and older about the city’s financial situation and housing policy priorities. The results presented here are based on 1,500 respondents surveyed between August 24 and September 4, 2026. The margin of error for the overall result is 2.5 percentage points. Deviations may occur due to rounding.

You can find the complete survey results here.