Overview

• New Eurostat data reveals Germans spend on average 24.5% of their income on housing, 5.3 percentage points above the EU average of 19.2%.
• Low-income and at-risk households in Germany face severe burdens, spending an average of 43.8% of their income on housing costs.
• Germany ranks third in Europe for housing cost share, following Greece (35.5%) and Denmark (26.3%).
• Housing affordability issues persist due to low vacancy rates, insufficient construction, and a homeownership rate under 44%.
• BSW Chair Sahra Wagenknecht and tenant advocates are pushing for a federal rent cap and expanded non-profit housing to address the crisis.