Germany's rental crisis traps tenants as rents soar and evictions rise
Rising rents and no-fault evictions are pushing many German tenants to the brink. A new documentary, #BetterLiving: How Can We Stop the Rental Crisis?, will air on March 31, 2023, at 10:50 p.m. on Das Erste. The programme explores the struggles of renters and calls for stronger protections in a tightening housing market. The #BetterLiving campaign, developed with the German Tenants' Association and Correctiv, highlights the growing pressures on renters. Nearly half of survey participants said they could not afford to move due to high costs, creating a 'lock-in effect'. Even those wanting to downsize, like Hamburg tenant Iris Konopik, find retirement planning difficult as rents outpace incomes.
Over 80% of respondents reported satisfaction with their current homes, yet affordability remains a major concern. Melanie Weber-Moritz, president of the German Tenants' Association, has urged lawmakers to expand legal safeguards and increase affordable housing. The association has also backed extending the Mietpreisbremse (rent brake) beyond 2029, working with groups like the DGB and Städtetag to curb excessive rent hikes.
The documentary will also be available in the ARD Media Library. Tenants can share their experiences until April 5, 2023, via ard.de/besserwohnen. The campaign and documentary aim to spotlight the rental crisis while pushing for policy changes. With many tenants trapped in unaffordable homes, calls for rent controls and legal reforms are growing louder. The German Tenants' Association continues to advocate for fairer housing conditions across the country.
