Social Democrats agree to faster rent deregulation

The governing Social Democrats have agreed to introduce rent deregulation at a faster tempo than previously planned, with rents set to rise by an average of 14.2 percent a year. Rents will increase at the beginning of January in the years 2007 to 2010.

The Social Democrats decided to quicken the pace of deregulation after holding talks with the two smaller parties in the coalition, the Christian Democrats and the Freedom Union.