Frankfurt am Main

In Frankfurt am Main, around 70–75% of residents rent their homes, while about 25–30% are owner-occupiers, reflecting Germany’s general preference for renting. As of mid-2025, the median asking rent for apartments in Frankfurt is about 19 to 21 euros per square meter per month, making it one of the most expensive rental markets nationwide. The median purchase price for apartments is approximately 7,200 to 7,500 euros per square meter, with prices up by about 3–5% compared to last year.

Publicly owned housing, much of which is administered by companies like Nassauische Heimstätte, plays a significant but limited role, accounting for about 10% of Frankfurt’s total housing stock. These dwellings are primarily allocated to lower-income residents and households unable to find affordable housing on the open market. Public housing is not identical to social housing: while all social housing is publicly subsidized and reserved for eligible low- and medium-income groups (with rental caps typically between 5 and 10.50 euros per square meter), public housing in Frankfurt can include other municipally owned flats, not all of which are income-restricted or subsidized at social rates. Thus, social housing is a subset of public housing, defined by targeted subsidies and eligibility requirements. Overall, demand continues to outpace supply, keeping prices and rents high, particularly in central districts.

Frankfurt am Main is facing an acute housing crisis, marked by severe undersupply and rising prices. The city’s population continues to grow due to its role as a financial hub and attractive job market, demanding an estimated 15,000 new housing units each year, a target that recent construction completion and approval rates have failed to meet. New dwelling approvals in Germany plummeted to their lowest since 2010, with national completions sharply down as well, mainly because of increased building costs and uncertain policies. Frankfurt’s rental vacancy rate in desirable areas is now often below 1%, cementing its status as a landlord’s market and leaving little available housing for new or lower-income residents.

Rental prices in Frankfurt have increased by at least 3% annually, with some districts seeing over 5% growth in a year. New-build rental apartments recorded an 8.2% year-on-year increase in Q1 2025, while even existing apartments saw nearly 6% annual rent growth. High demand and increasingly unaffordable prices make access especially difficult for young professionals, families, low- and middle-income earners, and recent migrants. Expats and international workers, drawn by Frankfurt’s global businesses, also add to the competition, further tightening the market and driving social inequality in housing access. The crisis is not limited to renters—prospective buyers are also priced out due to persistent property price increases and high mortgage rates. These factors combine to lock out large segments of the population from affordable and secure housing.

Frankfurt’s city administration addresses affordable and sustainable housing primarily through targeted subsidy programs and local partnerships. Current policy focuses on increasing the supply of rent-capped units by supporting new construction for both low- and middle-income residents. The “Frankfurt Program for the Construction of Affordable Rented Apartments” offers two subsidy schemes: Subsidy Scheme 1 targets households meeting strict income limits, with starting rents as low as 5 to 6.50 euros per square meter and further incentives for energy efficiency or accessible design. Subsidy Scheme 2 supports middle-income households with capped starter rents of 8.50 to 10.50 euros per square meter.

Recent targets, reflecting both local and federal goals, call for adding around 15,000 new housing units annually in Frankfurt, but actual approvals remain below this mark due to high construction costs and delays. To incentivize supply, the city works alongside the state housing program, implements higher subsidies for sustainable and accessible homes, and streamlines administrative procedures. Additional communal housing estates, like the Hilgenfeld Housing Estate, directly increase affordable stock.

Sustainability is promoted by demanding higher energy standards in subsidized buildings, such as bonuses for meeting low-energy criteria. Further, new national policy aims to simplify building approvals and boost both new construction and renovations under environmentally friendly standards, with a goal of achieving rental prices in subsidized new builds below 15 euros per square meter. These combined measures aim to offset the acute housing shortage and promote long-term affordability and ecological responsibility.

Housing cooperatives play a modest but growing role in Frankfurt am Main’s housing sector. They typically focus on providing stable, long-term rental homes at cost-based rents, often fostering community-oriented living. The overall share of cooperative housing in Frankfurt remains limited: cooperative apartments account for about 5 to 6 percent of the total housing stock, a fraction compared to private rentals or municipally owned dwellings.

In recent years, the development of cooperative housing projects has gained some momentum, fueled by rising rents and a search for alternative, socially responsible housing models. However, the sector’s expansion is still constrained by high land and construction costs, limited access to building plots, and regulatory hurdles. Some new developments target former industrial areas and urban infill opportunities, often in cooperation with municipal planning authorities.

The City of Frankfurt actively supports cooperative housing, viewing it as a tool for social stability and rental price moderation. Measures include prioritizing cooperatives in the allocation of municipal land, providing reduced land leases or sales, and integrating cooperatives into city subsidy schemes aimed at affordable housing. Current policies promote city-owned land allocation with a focus on sustainable, non-profit, and cooperative projects. Programmatic support is also in place via regional affordable housing initiatives, especially for mixed-income or inclusive housing concepts.

Despite recent support, the cooperative sector’s growth remains moderate, and its market share is unlikely to overtake traditional rental or public housing in the near future.