Here’s your quick update on what’s happening around the city on Friday, January 30 - from urgent alerts to stories in the subreddit. Today we went through 204 sources so you don't have to.

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💰 Tenants Can no Longer Profit from Subletting

Germany's high court ruled on Wednesday that tenants are forbidden from making a profit through subletting. The court clarified that while subletting is a legitimate way to cover rent while away, it cannot be turned into a business model. Any income exceeding actual housing expenses is now considered a violation of the primary rental agreement. (rbb24)

The ruling stemmed from a Berlin case where a tenant charged €962 for a flat with a base rent of €460. Though the tenant claimed the surcharge was for extensive furnishings like a dishwasher and sound system, the court upheld the landlord's eviction notice. This sets a precedent against using subletting to exploit tight urban housing markets. (The Berliner)

To close legal loopholes, the Federal Ministry of Justice is drafting legislation to regulate furnishing surcharges. Proposed rules include a 5% cap on net rent for fully furnished units to prevent "shadow rental markets." Housing advocates praised the court's decision as a victory for fairness, ensuring housing remains a basic need rather than a profit vehicle. (tagesspiegel)

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🔦 Berlin Unifies Disaster Response After Blackout

Berlin officials agreed to standardize disaster protection across all districts following a recent major power outage. The Senate will fund new technical equipment like satellite phones and increase dedicated staff from two to five per district. Authorities also introduced "KatHelfer", a digital system to coordinate volunteers. (rbb24)

The new response strategy utilizes a digital project "KatHelfer" to organize spontaneous volunteers through common messaging apps. Chatbots will categorize residents by specific skills, such as manual labor or caregiving abilities, to create a virtual bulletin board. This aims to fix communication failures observed during the recent blackout. (tagesspiegel.de)

Interior Senator Iris Spranger seeks legal reforms to grant the state government direct authority over district-level disaster management. Proposed changes include loosening data privacy rules to create a registry of vulnerable residents requiring help. Officials also plan to restrict public access to sensitive infrastructure maps to prevent sabotage. (taz.de)

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❄️ Trams Recover After Ice Storm Paralysis

Berlin's tram network is gradually recovering after severe freezing rain coated overhead lines in thick ice, initially paralyzing the entire system. While bus and subway services have largely returned to normal schedules, roughly 75% of the tram lines are now operational following days of total suspension. Crews continue working continuously to manually de-ice the remaining affected routes. (Tagesspiegel)

The chaos resulted from a specific weather event where up to eight liters of freezing rain per square meter struck the capital. Unlike neighboring Potsdam, which kept trams running by applying anti-icing fluids to overhead wires, Berlin's massive 200-kilometer network lacked these preventive measures. The public transport authority admitted they had not previously required chemical de-icing agents for winter operations. (rbb24)

Officials are demanding structural changes, criticizing the current reliance on manual de-icing as insufficient for a major metropolitan infrastructure. Senator Ute Bonde urged the transport authority to adopt preventive strategies used in other cities, such as treating power lines with glycerin to prevent ice buildup. Future plans may include testing automated de-icing systems in specialized climate chambers to improve resilience. (Tagesspiegel)

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⚡ Quick Hits

🇩🇪 Construction work on the RE1 line will cause cancellations and diversions for weeks | RE1 regional trains stop running between Berlin-Charlottenburg and Erkner starting January 30 at 9 PM. This closure lasts until February 27. The S7 S-Bahn line is unaffected.

🇬🇧 Germany to harden critical infrastructure as Russia fears spike | The law targets 1,700 providers in sectors like energy and water. Operators must report security incidents within 24 hours. Public access to sensitive grid maps will be restricted.

🇩🇪 How Berlin landlords cleverly circumvent tenant protection laws | Landlords increasingly use furnished, fixed-term leases to bypass rent caps and standard eviction protections. Experts estimate these cover 40% of Berlin's market.

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📅 Events Today

🎟️ SixDay Berlin | January 30-31, 2026 | from 36€ | Track cyclists fly past at ridiculous speeds while the arena turns into a neon circus.

🎟️ Still Talk: Year of the Cat Tour | January 30 | 20:00 - 23:00 | 24.90€ | Catch one of the most exciting acts on the German indie scene. A night of fresh musical discovery.

🎟️ Butts & Nuts Show | January 30 | 20:00 - 22:00 | Free | A chaotic fusion of drag and stand-up comedy. This queer variety show invites newcomers and icons to the stage for a good cause. All donations go directly to the animal shelter.

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💬 What Berliners Are Talking About

🗣️ What’s going on in the job market in Berlin? | Berlin locals warn the creative job market is bleak, especially without German.

🗣️ Optimal technique to walk on ice without slipping | People swap playful tips and gear hacks for surviving the sidewalks.

🗣️ Telemedizin in Berlin: Empfehlungen? | Berlin newcomer asks about legit telemedicine, gets tips on insurers and cannabis-focused services.

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📊 Chart of the Day

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⛴ Fun Fact: Berlin’s public transit isn’t just U-Bahn and buses – it even includes six ferries. For example, one ferry (F10) crosses the Wannsee lake, offering a scenic shortcut between boroughs.

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👋 That's a wrap! Thank you for reading.

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