Zero- Discrimination Policy

KUMMUNI is the leading company in addressing discrimination in the German housing market. With a wealth of evidence supporting this issue, we proudly stand as the only company dedicated to providing housing for those who face discrimination. Our mission is to ensure fairness for all individuals who decide to start their soy with Us!

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Zero Discrimination Policy is the fundament of KUMMUNI’s mission. Home is where the heart is, and for many of us, it’s where our story begins. It’s a place where we can be ourselves without any fear of judgment. At KUMMUNI, we understand the importance of having a safe and secure home, especially for foreigners living in Germany. That’s why we’re committed to making the process of finding an apartment as easy and stress-free as possible.

As a proptech startup based in Berlin, we believe that everyone deserves a comfortable and affordable place to call home. We understand that the language barrier and cultural differences can make it challenging for foreigners to navigate the German housing market. That’s why we offer a range of services, including multilingual support and personalized assistance, to help our clients find the perfect apartment that meets their needs and budget.

At KUMMUNI, we’re passionate about providing a seamless and hassle-free experience for our clients. We believe that finding a home should be an exciting and enjoyable process, not a stressful one. With our innovative technology and expert team, we’re here to help you find your home in Germany.

Humans are relied upon, algorithms are trusted!

Apply

At KUMMUNI, agents have limited power and won't be able to review your application.

Decision

The financial background will be evaluated by a trained and unbiased financial supervisor with the help of algorithm

Inform

The decision will be communicated to the tenant through email.

Observe

The system will evaluate every final decision to ascertain if any prejudiced judgments were made or not.

Tenants sensitive information remains secure and confidential throughout the process. Only tenants’ Identity will be shared with our agents after the application has been processed and approved. The agent’s role encompasses advising our tenants on handover dates, conducting and extending the contracts, as well as overseeing the handover protocols. Furthermore, we do not rely on web-based applications for data processing. All tenants information is processed and stored locally on a highly secure server.

Our Marketing Approach

KUMMUNI’s marketing strategy aims to combat discrimination in the German rental market. By addressing this issue head-on, we strive to establish a strong connection with our target market and carve out a unique niche. Moreover, we hope that approach serves as an inspiration for other companies to embrace inclusivity and foster a more equitable market. Here is a sample of our marketing materials.

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Zero Discrimination Policy, The mission of KUMMUNI

Zero Discrimination Policy is a serious practice in KUMMUNI. Our company takes discrimination seriously and has taken steps to combat it. We educate our staff on the issue and have also developed a software to address discrimination in the German housing market.

KUMMUNI and EqualPixles have collaborated to create unique software that simplifies the apartment application process. Unlike other rental housing companies, KUMMUNI allows applicants to upload their documents at the beginning of the process. These documents are then checked by a random financial supervisor. Once approved, the agent cannot decline the request, ensuring that everyone who can financially afford the rent is provided with a living space, regardless of their nationality or name.

Also our software works by identifying patterns of discrimination and if it find any unuseal activity, it will flagging them for further review.

This innovative approach to apartment applications eliminates the potential for discrimination based on personal information. By focusing solely on financial qualifications, KUMMUNI is providing an equal opportunity for all applicants. The software’s efficiency also streamlines the application process, making it easier and faster for both applicants and our colleagues.

Project Hanna and Ismail

In 2017, BR Data and SPIEGEL ONLINE conducted a large-scale experiment called “Hanna and Ismail” which revealed the disturbing reality of discrimination in the German housing market.

Hanna Berg and Ismail Hamed, both 27 years old, share a common profession and fluency in German. However, they are not human but AI entities that sent out 20,000 apartment inquiries over a span of several weeks. Out of these inquiries, only 8,000 responses were received.

The outcome was not favorable for Ismail as he received significantly fewer replies compared to Hanna. In contrast, Hanna was quickly invited to visit the apartments.

Here you can see the discrimination against non-German applicants, broken down by gender (Source: interaktiv.br.de)

Highlights from our policy

Scope:

Protected characteristics: KUMMUNI’s policy prohibits discrimination based on characteristics protected by law in Germany, such as race, ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity or sexual orientation, age and disability.
Areas covered: The policy apply to all aspects of KUMMUNI’s operations, including renting apartments, participating in community events, and interacting with staff.

Prohibited behaviors:

Direct discrimination: Treating someone differently based on a protected characteristic. For example, refusing to rent an apartment to someone because of their religion.
Indirect discrimination: Policies or practices that seem neutral but have a disproportionate impact on a particular group. For example, having a different ethnicity that disadvantages individuals from different ethnicity.
Harassment and bullying: Unwelcome behavior related to a protected characteristic that creates a hostile experience. For example, making offensive comments about someone’s race or disability or handling their request differently that the company’s standard.

Reporting and complaint procedures:

The policy outlines a clear process for reporting any suspected discrimination. This involves contacting the CEO of KUMMUNI or authorized associate at his office directly via myKUMMUNI App, submitting a formal complaint. Precipitant can choose to remain anonymous.
Every report will be investigated fairly and confidentially. This may involve gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and taking appropriate disciplinary action if necessary.
In Germany, the labor law mandates a specific approach to disciplinary action. However, KUMMUNI takes a different stance, handling acts of racism with swift and severe consequences. Each instance of proven racism leads to immediate termination of employment, without any prior notice.

Confidentiality and retaliation:

The policy assure individuals that their complaints will be handled confidentially to the extent possible.
Retaliation against someone who reports discrimination is strictly prohibited.

Training and awareness:

KUMMUNI provide training to staff on identifying and preventing discrimination. This training cover relevant laws, the company’s policy, and best practices for creating an inclusive environment.
The company also raise awareness of its zero discrimination policy among all stakeholders, tenants, partners, and the public.

Transparency and accountability:

KUMMUNI chooses to publicly share its zero discrimination policy on its website or other materials.
The company have mechanisms in place to monitor its compliance with the policy and make adjustments as needed.