It is not good to look for a room in a shared flat when you are a student in Germany. According to a study by the Moses Mendelssohn Institute, taken up by the newspaper The time, prices for a room have increased by nearly 11% in one year across the Rhine. “In 85 of the 95 cities on the list of college towns, a room in a shared apartment is more expensive today than in 2021,” says Stefan Brauckmann, the director of the institution responsible for the report. On average, a shared room costs students 44 euros more per month this year.
Cities in the West and the most populated towns remain in the lead, but rents are also rising in smaller towns that have hitherto been spared from price increases. In Munich, already one of the most expensive cities in Europe, it takes an average of 700 euros for a place in a shared apartment. This is the highest rate in Germany.
On the contrary, with 250 euros monthly, the city of Chemnitz, located in Saxony, in the East, is the most economical city to move in with other students.
Consequences of the health crisis
But how to explain this generalized inflation? Hamburg’s title identifies five causes. The first is that during the Covid-19 epidemic, many students stayed with their parents to take online lessons. The situation changed with the return to face-to-face, which caused a “catch-up” and an increase in demand, and therefore real estate pressure. The second reason, related to the first, is that international students are also catching up on their semesters in Germany and also looking for accommodation.
Inflation and the energy crisis are also contributing to rising rents, says The time, which also recalls that the federal government will pay 200 euros to students to help them given the situation. However, the terms of this bonus have not yet been communicated.
Fourth reason: the number of first-year students, 472,100 in 2021, is decreasing according to the Federal Statistical Office, but the total number of learners remains high, with 2.9 million people. “Many people extend their studies because they have to retake exams they failed or want to keep their student status to save fees,” explains Stefan Brauckmann.
Finally, the fifth and last cause, according to the daily, is a more structural problem of housing shortage. Many buildings are being renovated, which “blocks” the release of rooms for student flatshares.
Last July, the federal government announced an increase in housing aid, from 325 to 360 euros. A sum that allows you to afford a room only in very cheap cities, deplores The time.
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