Berliners Protest Climbing Rent Prices

BERLIN, GERMANY - APRIL 14: Tenants' rights organization representatives and activists demonstrate against rent increases and gentrification, at Potsdamer Platz on April 14, 2018 in Berlin, Germany. After German reunification nearly 30 years ago, the city was full of empty lots from bombed-out buildings from World War II as well those left in the wake of the removal of the Berlin Wall. As the city became more popular, investors began construction on modern buildings and rent hikes were often implemented for existing tenants. According to a property consultancy survey released this week, prices in Berlin lept by 20.5% in 2017, higher than in any other city in the world, its traditionally artist-attracting low rent threatened by housing developments and speculative buying. The survey showed the city beating other top contenders Izmir, Reykjavik, Vancouver and Hong Kong, leaving a majority of locals, according to participants at the demonstration, afraid of no longer being able to afford the housing they currently have. (Photo by Adam Berry/Getty Images)