Housing shortage

In 1990, the housing shortage in western Germany was estimated at around 1 million homes. There have been unexpected shifts in the population and its social habits, including the arrival of 750,000 German speaking immigrants in 1989 alone, a divorce rate of 130,000 a year, young single people entering the market, and an unexpected demand for bigger homes from smaller households. In the current decade alone, the number of over-60's in Germany will rise by three million to 15 million. In the first half of the 1980's the official estimate was for a 500,000 growth in the number of private households by the end of the decade, whereas the actual rise was 1.7 million -- almost all single people -- bringing the total to 27.4 million. By comparison the number of housing completions had fallen to their lowest levels for years: 177,000 in 1988 compared with 714,000 in 1973. Additional reasons for the housing shortfall are land shortages, prolonged planning procedures, green issues, and putting a priority on leisure space, and high interest rates which reduce the ability of new homeowners to take on a mortgage and make short-term money deposits a more attractive investment than property.

1. Inadequate housing

1. Uninvestigated housing alternatives
2. Reduced stock of low-income housing
3. Insufficient rural housing

1. Illegal occupation of unoccupied property
2. Exploitation in housing
3. Discrimination in housing

1. Unethical practices of landlords
2. Unavailability of building materials
3. Segregation in housing
4. Overemphasized leisure activities
5. Living alone
6. Limited available land
7. Lack of war relief
8. Insufficient housing funds
9. Housing destruction by warfare
10. High interest rates
11. Excessive longevity
12. Delays in planning authorization
13. Decreasing household size
14. Administrative delays

1. Increase in abandoned buildings
2. Abandoned private homes

1. Restrictions on immigration

1. Increasing amount of housing
2. Developing housing policy

1. Shortage