Freiburg

Freiburg, a city in southwestern Germany, is experiencing a tight housing market characterized by high demand and limited supply. The city has approximately 110,000 housing units for its population of around 230,000 residents.

The homeownership rate in Freiburg is lower than the national average, with about 35% of residents owning their homes and 65% renting. This reflects the city's high property prices and strong rental market.

As of 2025, the median price to buy an apartment in Freiburg is around 5,500 euros per square meter. Rental prices are also high, with the median rent for an apartment at approximately 14 euros per square meter per month.

Freiburg is known for its innovative approach to housing, particularly in sustainable and cooperative developments. The city actively promotes social and cooperative housing projects, which account for about 20% of the total housing stock. Notable examples include the Vauban district, a model for sustainable urban living, and the Kleineschholz neighborhood development, which emphasizes housing for the common good.

Public housing plays a significant role, with the city-owned housing company Freiburger Stadtbau managing about 8,000 units, representing roughly 7% of the total housing stock. These efforts aim to maintain affordability and social diversity in a challenging market environment.

Freiburg, Germany has emerged as a leader in promoting cooperative housing as part of its sustainable urban development strategy. The city actively supports housing cooperatives through various policy mechanisms and programs.

The city offers preferential access to land for cooperatives, including selling or leasing public land at below-market rates. In new developments, Freiburg reserves a percentage of land specifically for cooperative housing projects. The city also provides financial support through subsidies, guarantees, and favorable loan terms for cooperative developments.

Freiburg utilizes concept-based tendering, where projects are selected based on their social and ecological merits rather than solely on price. This approach favors innovative cooperative models oriented toward the common good. The city also offers technical assistance and support to help cooperatives navigate the development process.

Notable cooperative housing projects in Freiburg include:

• The Vauban district, an eco-friendly neighborhood with numerous cooperative housing developments, including the Genova housing cooperative.
• The Kleineschholz development, which prioritizes non-profit and cooperative housing models.
• Projects by the Mietshäuser Syndikat, an alternative housing organization, in the Gutleutmatten area.

These initiatives have helped Freiburg create more affordable, sustainable, and community-oriented housing options while fostering citizen participation in urban development. The city's approach to cooperative housing has become a model for other municipalities seeking to promote social and ecological urban living.

The city administration of Freiburg is actively addressing housing challenges through several initiatives. Mayor Martin Horn has unveiled an ambitious plan to build around 2,500 affordable apartments by 2030, one of the largest housing projects in the city's history. The municipal housing company Stadtbau is playing a key role, having built 236 apartments in 2022 and developing an additional 204 flats.

Freiburg's "Affordable Housing 2030" strategy, adopted in 2020, emphasizes affordability, sustainability, and socially subsidized housing. The city is focusing on two major development areas:

1. Dietenbach district: Planned to provide 7,000 flats with a carbon-neutral design.

2. Kleineschholz development: Set to be Freiburg's first 100% public welfare-oriented construction project, with approximately 500 residential units.

The city employs concept-based tendering to allocate public land, prioritizing collaborative housing organizations and projects oriented towards the common good. This approach aims to foster community involvement and dialogue between public bodies and housing organizations.

Freiburg is also implementing strict environmental standards, such as mandating low-energy housing standards and promoting energy-efficient buildings. The administration is navigating challenges like balancing environmental preservation with housing needs, as seen in the debates surrounding the Dietenbach project.

Overall, Freiburg's approach combines social objectives of inclusiveness and affordability with ecological goals, aiming to create sustainable, community-oriented housing solutions.