Germany's Frankfurt and Freiburg unveil new affordable housing for apprentices

In Frankfurt, the development company KEG, 50% owned by the city, is converting a former disability workshop building in the Niederursel district into a dormitory named “Ursel”. The project will create seven self‑contained flat‑share units with 22 total places at a rent of €345 per month (€11.90 /m²), considerably below the city’s average. Funding of €4‑5 million will come from municipal and state grants, supplemented by contributions from local companies that can secure long‑term occupancy rights.

Meanwhile in Freiburg, the city‑run housing provider Freiburger Stadtbau is completing the WIR:SÜD apprenticeship housing complex. The site will contain 89 furnished apartments offering 145 places, scheduled for official opening on 20 July and first move‑ins in mid‑August. Companies lease the units and pass the cost on to trainees, with total monthly rents of €750 for a one‑room unit or €650 for a two‑room flat, capped at two‑thirds of the rent being charged to apprentices. Over two‑thirds of the spaces are already allocated, reflecting strong demand from firms across sectors.

Both initiatives aim to lower housing costs for apprentices, improve recruitment for companies, and address the shortage of affordable accommodation in German training markets.