By the end of 2025, Germany had around 20,000 fewer social housing units than a year earlier, according to the Federal Ministry of Housing, in response to a query from Left Party MP Caren Lay. While 27,283 newly built rental apartments were subsidized (two percent more than in 2024) and 4,701 new dormitory places for students and trainees were created, 57,621 units fell out of the social housing obligation – publicly funded apartments reserved for those with a housing entitlement certificate, which must offer affordable rents for up to 30 years.
The gap was particularly large in North Rhine-Westphalia: 6,773 new social housing units and 1,110 dormitory places were built there, but 26,421 units lost their social binding – a net loss of 18,538. Berlin (−2,957) and Bavaria (−2,790) also saw declines. Positive balances were recorded in Baden-Württemberg (+3,046), Lower Saxony (+1,240), and Saxony (+944).
Housing Minister Verena Hubertz (SPD) wants to reverse the downward trend and plans to invest 23.5 billion euros at the federal level alone by 2029. Left Party housing expert Lay sharply criticized the figures: “This level of funding is needed every year – especially now that private housing construction is stalling.” She called for a genuine new non-profit housing sector and a rent cap, arguing that temporary rent controls are not socially sustainable.
EuroPulse reported on June 12, 2026, on the federal government’s draft law on the EU AI regulation (europulse.today/ki-verordnung-umsetzung-deutschland-gesetzentwurf/).
Source: Tagesschau
