# German housing market vacancy and shortage trends

> Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/german-housing-market-vacancy-and-shortage-trends
> Updated: 2026-10-21T10:22:59.000Z. Sources: 13. Developments: 2.

The German housing market is characterized by a significant regional imbalance between urban shortages and rural vacancies. The German Association of Cities and Municipalities (DStGB) has advocated for a comprehensive strategy to address rising metropolitan rents and housing scarcity. Secretary General André Berghegger suggested that instead of focusing solely on urban rent controls, the government should improve rural connectivity, healthcare, and infrastructure to encourage regional balance, noting that approximately 1.9 million apartments remain vacant in rural areas.

Regional data highlights these disparities and specific local challenges. In the Spree-Neiße region, vacancy rates have reached as high as 35.8 percent in Forst due to demographic shifts. Other areas face structural issues, such as Dortmund, where thousands of apartments are vacant or decaying due to renovation costs and legal disputes, and Lauchhammer, where structural damage has led to partial evacuations. Meanwhile, Berlin continues to navigate political discussions regarding affordable living spaces following coalition exploratory talks.

## Claims

- Forst has a vacancy rate of 35.8 percent. (reported by 2 sources)
- Guben has a vacancy rate of 25 percent. (reported by 2 sources)
- Population decline is a primary reason for high vacancy in Spree-Neiße. (reported by 2 sources)
- The vacancy rate in Spree-Neiße is approximately 20 percent. (reported by 1 source)
- Oldenburg completed 2,041 new apartments between 2020 and 2025. (reported by 1 source)
- Oldenburg's vacancy rate rose from 2.2 percent in 2011 to 3.1 percent in 2022. (reported by 1 source)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-21: Housing shortages and vacancy trends across Germany

Germany faces diverse housing issues, including high vacancy rates in Spree-Neiße, decaying properties in Dortmund, and safety concerns in Lauchhammer, alongside ongoing policy debates in Berlin.

9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/housing-vacancy-rates-rise-in-spree-neie-and-oldenburg

### 2026-10-02: German municipalities urge rural development to ease urban housing shortage

The German Association of Cities and Municipalities urges a national strategy to ease urban housing shortages by making rural areas more attractive through improved transport, healthcare, and infrastructure.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/german-municipalities-urge-rural-development-to-ease-urban-housing-shortage

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Cite as: German housing market vacancy and shortage trends. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/german-housing-market-vacancy-and-shortage-trends