Rents in Saarland are rising rapidly: living space is becoming a scarce commodity!

Rents in Saarland are rising rapidly: living space is becoming a scarce commodity!

In Germany, many people are currently protesting against the sharp rise in rents, which have reached critical levels in recent years. Saarland is particularly affected, where rental prices have risen significantly. The German Federation of Trade Unions (DGB) warns of a tense situation on the housing market and emphasizes that affordable housing is becoming increasingly rare in cities like Saarbrücken. According to DGB Saar boss Timo Ahr, there is a lack of adequate living space not only in the state capital, but also in other Saarland cities. Rental prices are rising faster than citizens' incomes, while additional financial burdens caused by inflation and high energy prices are further exacerbating the situation.

A detailed analysis of rental price developments in Saarland shows that rental prices have increased over the last ten years between 22.8% in Saarlouis and an alarming 54.1% in Homburg. Homburg has the highest rent increases of all district towns. The DGB emphasizes that more and more people are at risk of losing their homes or being pushed out of familiar neighborhoods. In order to counteract this trend, the DGB is calling for a six-year rent freeze as a minimum measure. This demand is supported by the “Rent Stop” campaign, which has already organized various actions such as rallies and discussions with those affected.

Current rental price development

Current developments show that net rents in Saarland have increased by 2.5% over the last year. In Saarbrücken, rent increases of up to 25% were sometimes observed. The Landesbausparkasse Saar (LBS) sees a relatively better situation in Saarland compared to other federal states, but points out the significant lack of affordable housing. The existing building stock in Saarland is outdated and there is a lack of incentives for new buildings. High construction costs for new buildings and rising existing rents contribute to the burden on tenants. According to LBS, it is almost impossible for developers to build apartments for less than 3,500 euros per square meter.

The situation is further complicated by various factors such as the refugee crisis, the effects of Corona and the war in Ukraine. The Saarland Tenants' Association speaks of a rent spiral resulting from the current economic situation. The demand for the introduction of a rent cap is growing louder in order to limit rent increases in tight housing markets. This rent cap could allow a maximum of 10% above the local comparative rent, but does not apply to new buildings or extensively renovated properties. What is worrying is that Saarland is one of the eight federal states in which the rent cap has not yet been applied.

Outlook and demands

The tenants' association has also formulated a demand for the construction of at least 8,000 social housing units. In order to make progress in social housing, construction costs must be reduced and requirements adjusted without jeopardizing the safety of construction projects. In November 2024, Saarland's Construction Minister Jost presented a new state building code that aims to ease the bureaucratic hurdles in construction. But it remains to be seen whether these measures will be sufficient to decisively counteract the shortage of housing and rising rental prices.

DGB-Saar and other stakeholders will continue to fight for improvements in order to create a housing situation that remains livable for all citizens in Saarland. star reports on the ongoing protests, during S.R The challenges for tenants are highlighted once again.