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The Hausgemeinschaft
In German cities, most people live in apartment buildings, and the residents of a building are often called the Hausgemeinschaft. How much of a community it is varies enormously: in some buildings neighbors barely greet each other, while in others, especially in cooperatives, they hold regular meetings, organize courtyard parties and share tools, gardens and childcare. Many older Berlin buildings are arranged around a courtyard, with a front building facing the street and further buildings behind it, so the Hof is a natural meeting place. The classic sources of friction are recorded in the house rules: noise, the rest periods in the evening and on Sundays, waste sorting, and what may be left in the shared stairwell and hallway. Fire safety is a real constraint here, because in many buildings the stairwell is the only escape route, and blocking it with bikes or strollers can be against the rules. Berlin's housing market adds another theme: when a building is sold, residents often worry about expensive renovations or the conversion of rental apartments into condominiums. The city has rules that can restrict such conversions in certain neighborhoods, and tenants' associations advise residents when it happens.