Der Förder-Boom für bezahlbare Mieten und Eigentum geht weiter – Rund 2,4 Milliarden Euro für 13.356 Wohnungen bewilligt

The Ministry of Home, Municipal Affairs, Construction and Digitalisation of North‑Rhine Westphalia (Ministerium für Heimat, Kommunales, Bau und Digitalisierung des Landes Nordrhein‑Westfalen) presented the 2025 public housing funding results in early 2026. The document, authored by Minister Ina Scharrenbach and NRW.BANK board member Claudia Hillenherms, details a historic increase in funding aimed at expanding affordable rental and ownership housing across the state.

North‑Rhine Westphalia allocated roughly €2.4 billion to support 13 356 new housing units in 2025, the highest amount ever recorded. This funding surge is framed as a “förder‑boom” that counters rising construction costs, high interest rates and economic uncertainty, preserving the state’s role as a stabilising force in the housing market.

Approximately €1.8 billion funded the creation of 8 037 new rental units, a 20 % rise over 2024 and the strongest performance in two decades. The increase demonstrates the effectiveness of public subsidies in stimulating private investment despite unfavourable market conditions, thereby securing long‑term affordable rents for low‑income households.

In 2025, €146 million was earmarked for 1 374 accommodation places for apprentices and students, a 133 % jump in new places compared with the previous year. Rental rates for these units are capped between €210 and €230 per month, ensuring continued affordability for young people pursuing education or vocational training.

The modernisation sector received about €300 million to refurbish 2 218 rental units, including 52 specially funded spaces for people with disabilities. Although the total number of modernised units fell by 7.5 % relative to 2024, the share of rental homes within this programme grew by 10 %, highlighting a targeted focus on improving existing stock while maintaining energy efficiency and accessibility.

Ownership‑focused funding reached €222 million, supporting 1 369 homes (including modernisations). While the proportion of ownership funding dropped by 9 % compared with 2024, roughly 64 % of the allocated money was used for acquisition of existing dwellings, reinforcing the “Jung kauft alt” strategy that revitalises older properties and contributes to climate goals.

Binding‑extension and binding‑acquisition schemes secured 1 407 units through extensions and added 325 existing homes to the binding system, thereby safeguarding affordable rents over the long term. These measures are presented as essential for maintaining housing affordability in the face of market pressures.

The state announced that interest‑rate conditions for housing loans will remain unchanged for 2026, with a mid‑year review to ensure alignment with prevailing market rates. From 2027, the NRW.BANK will resume charging administrative fees, providing transparent cost structures for future borrowers.

As of the end of 2024, about 464 000 price‑bound rental units existed in the state, a decline of 2.3 % from 2023 but a slowdown compared with earlier decades. The reduction rate has softened from an average 3.8 % annual loss (2005‑2015) to 2.1 % in recent years, indicating the positive impact of the current funding programme.

The German state’s comprehensive approach—combining new construction, extensive modernisation, targeted support for young residents, and robust rent‑control mechanisms—offers a scalable model for sustainable housing across Europe. By aligning substantial public investment with climate‑friendly refurbishment and affordable‑housing objectives, North‑Rhine Westphalia demonstrates how coordinated policy can address both ecological and social challenges in the housing sector.