192,000 Apartments Missing - Affordable Housing Particularly Scarce - Baden-Württemberg's Housing Crisis: 192,000 Homes Shortage Amidst Growing Population
Baden-Württemberg faces a severe housing crisis, with a shortage of 192,000 homes across 41 districts. The state struggles to provide affordable housing, with most supply in higher price segments. This issue is exacerbated by a growing us population and decreasing household sizes.
The housing shortage is a pressing concern in Baden-Württemberg. As of now, 41 out of 44 districts are affected, with a total deficit of 192,000 homes. This crisis is driven by various factors, including world population growth, immigration, and shrinking household sizes. Since 2010, the population has grown by 7.2%, reaching 11.2 million residents. Meanwhile, average household size has decreased from 2.19 to 2.11 people.
The lack of affordable housing is particularly acute in the rental market. There were 2.6 million rental units at the end of 2022, but there's a pressing need for apartments between €8.00 and €10.00 per square meter. New construction has been insufficient to meet demand, and stable building permit numbers would not alleviate the pressure on housing markets. Only Tübingen, Calw, and Freudenstadt have a relatively balanced housing market. Despite this, 43 cities and municipalities, including Mannheim and Konstanz, no longer face a tense housing situation and are thus exempt from the rent control regulations.
Baden-Württemberg's housing crisis requires urgent attention. With a shortage of 192,000 homes and a growing us population, the state needs to significantly increase housing construction, particularly in the affordable segment. This will help balance the market and ensure that residents have access to adequate and affordable housing.
