Rostock is fighting against a housing shortage: This is how social construction should be done!

Rostock is fighting against a housing shortage: This is how social construction should be done!

There is a housing shortage in many German cities. The situation in Rostock is no exception. According to [ndr]. The average net rent in Rostock at the end of 2024 was 6.52 euros per square meter. Given the challenges presented by the housing market, such prices are of great importance.

An important point is that WIRO, despite its cost-covering targets, actively works to prevent homelessness and works closely with the city administration and social initiatives. At the beginning of 2023, ten apartments were provided for homeless people in a project with Diakonie Rostock. It shows that the company takes the needs of all tenants seriously when renting new properties.

The problems are many

But the challenges are enormous. According to a study by the “Social Housing” association, there is a shortage of around 550,000 apartments across Germany, which has a significant impact on rents. bpb reports that average rents in large cities have risen sharply. In Cologne, the average first-time or re-letting rent is currently 13.44 euros net, a figure that deters many potential tenants.

Not only Rostock, but also cities such as Berlin and Frankfurt are recording sharply rising rental prices. A current report from tagesschau highlights that people with secure jobs are often rejected for apartments, often because of their origin or social status. These developments make it clear that finding housing has become a real challenge in many cases.

Fewer new buildings and high demand

One reason for the tense situation is the lack of new buildings. Experts emphasize that inadequate construction activity is the main cause of the housing shortage. Only 294,400 new apartments were completed in 2023, although the federal government had planned 400,000 new buildings annually. bpb expects that the situation will not improve quickly: only 150,000 to 200,000 apartments are expected to be completed in 2025.

In the context of this challenge, WIRO plans to build around 500 new apartments by 2028 and has already rented 370 new apartments in 2024. A promising new building project in Rostock will offer around 275 privately financed apartments that will contribute to social mix.

Looking to the future

The city administration is planning further large projects, including the Warnowquartier with around 900 apartments and Groter Pohl with around 1,200 apartments. Legal action is already underway and development work is scheduled to begin in 2025. These developments are a step in the right direction - however, many of these projects face challenges, particularly construction costs and necessary permits.

The search for solutions is urgently needed because Rostock and many other cities are facing an unprecedented challenge that must be addressed together. It remains to be seen whether the political promises to turn things around in the construction industry will finally be implemented or whether the situation for tenants will remain tense.