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The "disowning" part is somewhat different from the current transaction though. It will be decided by referendum if the "disowning" actually happens and at least the proponents say that Berlin should not be paying market rates for the apartments.

The article mentions a different deal that was struck separately without a referendum. I think there is not much support for buying back apartments for such prices.

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Problem is, "not be paying market rates" will never happen. Market rates will be paid, because disowning anyone for the public good is only constitutional, if market rates are paid as restitution. There have been lots and lots of cases around disowned people lost by the state because of that.

There are often ways around that. For example the state can manipulate the markets, or offer an alternate choice, for example to never raise rents ever.

Lowering rents was part of the plan anyways, I think. Market manipulation through rent caps has been tried before and (in the Berlin version) declared unconstitutional.

It's constitutional, it was just ruled it wasn't a municipal faculty

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