In Germany there is a need of around 320,000 new apartments per year by 2030, according to the Federal Institute for Building, Urban and Spatial Research. However, there are large regional differences.
Living space is searched and is needed. And that stays that way. According to a forecast by the Federal Institute for Building, Urban and Spatial Research (BBSR), there is a need for around 320,000 new apartments per year in Germany by 2030.
“According to our forecast, the number of households will grow by 1.3 percent to 42.6 million by 2030,” said BBSR expert Anna Maria Müther with a view to the aging of the population and more single households.
Where there is particularly great need
In the seven largest cities – Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt am Main, Stuttgart, Cologne and Düsseldorf – the need is together with 60,000 new apartments annually. In Berlin, followed by Munich, the needs in absolute numbers are greatest.
In relation to the 400 counties and independent cities in Germany, the pressure to act is particularly large in the south. The city of Landshut with an annual need of 87 apartments is at the forefront of 10,000 inhabitants. This is followed by Regensburg (83), Kempten in Allgäu (77) and Memmingen (75).
At the very back is the Weimarer Land (five) and Altmark district of Salzwedel, Börde, Saale-Holzlandkreis and Saalekreis (six each).
What is particularly needed?
The focus is on rental and condominiums in apartment buildings. In many rural regions, however, the new building needs are moderate, according to the study. In structurally weak counties with decreasing population, it is more about keeping the housing stock modern.
According to BBSR expert Matthias Waltersbacher, the need for small apartments with one or two rooms and around 50 square meters is very high, but suitable objects were also missing for larger families.
In addition, cheap apartments are rare, even smaller apartments in large cities are rarely available below 1,000 euros for new construction rentals of 16 to 20 euros per square meter. Basically there are enough space for new construction projects, but the municipalities would also have to get to them.
Other forecasts are higher
Other facilities see the living space requirements higher. For example, the Institute of German Economy (IW) calculated an annual new building requirement of 373,000 apartments.
According to Ralph Henger, economist for housing policy and real estate economics at the IW, housing policy, led by Minister of Construction Klara Geywitz, has rightly focused on more new construction and initiated many correct measures. However, these were “counteracted in troubled times by massively increased interest rates and construction costs as well as the shortage of skilled workers”.
Challenge For new government
The new federal government – probably a coalition of the CDU/CSU and SPD – will have a lot to do. Because in 2023 only 294,000 apartments were completed. There are no figures for 2024.
The SPD Ministry, which commissioned the BBSR study, had targeted 400,000 each year. Among other things, higher interest rates and increased construction costs have thwarted this.
