Aachen is fighting against the housing shortage: New solutions are required!

Aachen is fighting against the housing shortage: New solutions are required!

The housing shortage remains an urgent problem, not only in Aachen, but in many cities in Germany. The situation is precarious and particularly affects those who are already on the margins of society. Mathias, a man in his early 60s, can tell you a thing or two about it. Three years ago he lost his apartment and found himself in a desperate situation. He spent nights in the park with lots of rejections, shame and frustration. Fortunately, he has now found a suitable apartment, but the traumatic experiences testify to the challenges that many people have to go through in the current situation. Loud WDR However, the housing shortage not only affects the socially disadvantaged, but also people with a regular income.

The example of an elderly woman stuck on the third floor without an elevator is as telling as the stories of students who have long commutes because they cannot afford the city. Even families with children are forced to live in just 60 square meters because larger, affordable apartments are rare.
Many landlords are under pressure due to rising construction costs and new regulations that make it harder to brighten the housing market. A bright spot could be the planned municipal housing association, which is scheduled to start this year.

Initiatives to improve the living situation

A particularly controversial measure is the rent cap that has been in effect since March, which ensures that rents for re-lettings can be no more than ten percent above the local comparative rent. However, it remains uncertain whether this regulation will have the desired effect. The new “Blue Gate” construction site at Aachen Central Station brings hope, as apartments for students, a supermarket and a fitness studio are to be built here by 2024. But this alone is not enough to solve the impending housing shortage.

The federal government has set itself the goal of improving the housing situation, especially in metropolitan areas where the hurdles for those looking for housing are particularly high. An increase in rents and construction costs is putting many people under pressure. The planned measures to introduce a “construction turbo” for faster approval of new apartments appear to be necessary in the long term, because according to daily news Around 110,000 new apartments were approved in the first half of 2025 - an increase of 2.9 percent compared to the previous year.

A painful housing shortage

Current studies show an alarming lack of housing. According to a study commissioned by the “Social Housing” association, there is a shortage of around 550,000 apartments nationwide. This increase in housing demand is due, among other things, to high immigration numbers, while new construction activity is falling short of expectations. As the Federal Agency for Civic Education reports, around 52 percent of people in Germany lived in rent in 2023. Rents are rising dramatically in large cities; Between 2010 and 2022, average re-letting rents rose by almost 70 percent. In cities like Cologne, the average price per square meter is 13.44 euros.

The problem is more complex than it seems at first glance: There is enough living space in Germany, but it is poorly distributed. Non-profit housing and financial support for social housing are urgently needed. The idea of ​​the new residential non-profit organization, which is to be introduced in 2024, could be a small step in the right direction.
The upcoming discussion at the Burtscheider Markt on September 27th with experts and those affected will be about how housing construction and the rent cap can be effectively further developed. Admission is free and the event will be broadcast live on WDR 5.