Here’s your quick update on what’s happening around the city on Wednesday, September 24 - from urgent alerts to stories in the subreddit. Today we went through 100+ articles, posts and events so you don't have to.

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🇩🇪 "It's the Wild West what's going on here"

Germany’s Federal Court of Justice is hearing a Berlin case on whether the rent cap applies to sublets, after a tenant sublet a €460 apartment for €962 without permission; the landlord seeks termination.

Subletting has surged among young Berliners amid tight housing supply, with many rooms priced above legal limits. Lower protections and disputed rules have fueled conflicts, though Berlin courts have held main tenants must respect the cap and that sublets are not a separate market.

A ruling could set a nationwide precedent on applying the cap to sublets, shape eviction decisions, require disclosure of sublease terms, and enable some tenants to seek refunds for overcharges. (rbb24, 7 minute read)

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🇩🇪 Heating costs to rise significantly again in 2025

Heating costs in Germany will rise across all energy sources this year, co2online’s Heizspiegel reports, with a 70 m² gas-heated apartment up 15% to €1,180; district heating +2% to €1,245; oil +3% to €1,055; pellets +20% to €740; heat pumps +5% to €715.

The increases reflect higher energy prices and a cold start to the year; last year costs declined. Co2online expects further rises, with gas and oil costs tripling over 20 years, district heating and pellets roughly doubling, while heat pumps see the slowest growth thanks to policy support and renewable power.

Households should expect higher bills into 2026; co2online says most can cut costs by about €400 a year through thermostat and heating-curve adjustments, proper ventilation, lower hot-water use, and upgrades such as hydraulic balancing, pump replacements, and pipe insulation. (tagesschau.de, 2 minute read)

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🇩🇪 Merz's poll ratings in free fall: AfD overtakes CDU/CSU

The AfD leads at 26% in a new INSA poll, overtaking the Union (CDU/CSU) at 24.5%; AfD leader Alice Weidel climbs to 10th in the politician ranking (37.6), while CDU leader Friedrich Merz drops to 18th (35.5).

The results reflect voter discontent, with migration, energy costs, and security driving AfD support. Union and SPD together poll at 39%, below past majorities; Greens 11%, Left 11.5%, BSW 4%, FDP 3.5% would miss the 5% threshold.

The findings are likely to sharpen strategy debates ahead of upcoming eastern state elections, with attention on whether AfD consolidates its lead and whether the Union adjusts course. (Berliner Zeitung, 2 minute read)

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⚡ Quick Hits

• 🇩🇪 Bartender bites out the cheek of snack bar owner (44) (B.Z. – Die Stimme Berlins, 2 minute read)

• 🇬🇧 Berlin to get its first public bicycle parking garage (Berlin.de, 1 minute read)

• 🇩🇪 Berlin police register significantly more incorrectly parked e-scooters (rbb24, 2 minute read)

• 🇩🇪 Berlin - Bitterfeld railroad line closed for months from Wednesday due to construction work (rbb24, 2 minute read)

• 🇩🇪 Apartment in Berlin: Investor plans up to 2,500 apartments and furniture stores (MOZ.de, 4 minute read)

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📅 Events Today

• 🎟️ Berlin Autumn Carnival | September 19 - October 19, 2025 | High Sky, Anubis and more: Expect lots of fun rides at the Berlin Autumn Carvival on the fairground at Kurt-Schumacher-Damm. 

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💬 What Berliners Are Talking About

• 🗣️ The traffic in Berlin is so bad now, that commuting to and from the outskirts is sometimes quicker with the bike... - Rush-hour gridlock in Berlin has commuters choosing bikes and public transit instead.

• 🗣️ ⚠️ Warning: tech Company in Berlin hiring for Mobile Engineer my experience: toxic environment, unsafe for women) - Ex-employee warns applicants about toxic Berlin startup, harassment, unpaid overtime.

• 🗣️ PSA: if you see someone get assaulted, make sure the victim stays when you call the police - If you see an assault, encourage but don't force the victim to stay.

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🎨 Fun Fact: Berlin is an art lover’s dream with around 290 art galleries – the highest concentration of modern art galleries in Europe.

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