Rental costs in region 10 examined by the Left party
In recent years, rent prices in Germany, particularly in Region 10, have seen a significant increase. This region, which includes cities like Cottbus and Kaiserslautern, among others, has witnessed a notable surge in rents, especially in medium-sized and smaller cities.
For instance, Cottbus and Kaiserslautern have experienced rent increases of up to 41%, with average cold rents standing at around €8.86/m² in Cottbus and €10.05/m² in Kaiserslautern. Berlin, the capital city, has also seen a rise of approximately 42.6% since early 2022, with new contracts averaging around €14.90/m² [3][4].
Berlin, while still a reference point for major cities in the region, shows average net cold rents for existing buildings ranging from €7.67 to €8.43/m², while new building offers sit at about €22.15/m² [3]. On the other hand, more affordable cities like Dresden and Leipzig, while seeing rising rents, still offer one-bedroom apartments for rent ranging from €400 to €750 monthly, translating to roughly €6 to €8 or more per m² depending on the apartment size [1].
Notable cities in Region 10 and similar eastern locations with notable rent increases include Berlin, Cottbus and Kaiserslautern, Dresden, and Leipzig. These cities are experiencing a rapid rise in rent levels, indicating a high demand and rising rent prices outside the very large cities.
These developments have sparked demands for stronger rent control measures ("Mietendeckel") and substantial construction of social housing to counter the drastic rent increases, especially in urban centres and expanding mid-sized cities [4]. The German government is under pressure to increase housing support and social housing construction amid decreasing support and a shortage of affordable apartments, which disproportionately affects low-income households [4].
Public and tenant groups emphasise the need for rent caps and increased social housing to address the "exploding" market rents and scarcity of affordable housing [4]. Sarah Vollath, a Member of the Bundestag from The Left, has called for the immediate introduction of a rent cap for communities and cities in Region 10, including a stop to rent increases above the inflation rate, clear upper limits for new rentals, and a return to socially regulated rent prices [5].
Vollath also demands stricter regulations against speculative vacancy and the introduction of a purpose ban regulation for the region. She, along with other critics, accuses the state government of abandoning its responsibility in housing construction [5]. The housing situation in cities like Ingolstadt, Pfaffenhofen, Neuburg-Schrobenhausen, and Eichstätt, all in Region 10, has shown a clear increase over the past decade, with rent prices almost as fast as those in Munich [5].
The average cold rent in Ingolstadt is 12.95 euros per square meter, significantly higher than the national average of 7.28 euros. Tenants in Ingolstadt now pay an average of over 950 euros for a 75-square-meter apartment. The rent cap, if implemented, would bring much-needed relief to these tenants [5].
However, the promise of 10,000 social housing units by Minister-President Söder remains unfulfilled, with only 267 units realised [5]. Vollath calls the current housing situation in Region 10 a scandal. The remaining promised units either exist only on paper or not at all [5].
In conclusion, Region 10 of Germany is experiencing significant rent increases, particularly in mid-sized cities like Kaiserslautern and Cottbus, with cold rents now averaging between €8.86 and €10.05 per square meter, and Berlin experiencing rapid rises as well. These developments drive calls for rent caps and expanded social housing as essential measures to combat housing affordability challenges [1][3][4].
