Zwischen Leerstand und Wohnungsnot (KATAPULT Sachsen)

The piece “Zwischen Leerstand und Wohnungsnot” is published by KATAPULT Sachsen, a regional media outlet focused on social and urban issues in Saxony. It is authored by journalist Yvonne Schmidt, who regularly reports on housing, urban development and policy matters. The article investigates the contrasting housing situations in Leipzig, Dresden and Chemnitz, highlighting the paradox of high vacancy rates in some cities while others face severe shortages of affordable homes.

Leipzig is described as Germany’s “renter capital”, with 87 % of its residents living in rented accommodation according to the 2022 census. Only about 25 % of the city’s housing stock is owned by the municipality or cooperatives; the majority is held by private landlords and profit‑driven investors, many of whom are based outside the city. Private landlords charge an average rent of €6.74 per square metre, compared with €5.73 for gemeinwohl‑oriented cooperatives, illustrating a growing price gap driven by market pressure.

In contrast, Chemnitz suffers from a chronic oversupply of housing. The vacancy rate stands at roughly 11 % (about 16 000 empty flats), far above the “healthy” 3‑5 % benchmark. Certain districts, such as the Sonnenberg area, experience vacancy rates of up to 18.7 %. The largest provider, GGG, manages around 25 000 apartments with a 9 % vacancy rate, while the Chemnitzer housing cooperative reports a lower 7.5 % rate. Many of these empty units could be re‑occupied quickly if market conditions improved.

Investors are attracted to Saxony by tax benefits that make investing from West Germany into the East financially appealing. Historical privatisation after reunification transferred many former state‑owned properties to private hands, limiting the amount of publicly owned housing. Recent low‑interest periods encouraged investors from Leipzig and Dresden to purchase and renovate properties in Chemnitz, but rising rates have halted this flow, leaving many renovated flats still vacant.

Dresden faces a stark deficit of social housing, with an estimated need for 48 000 additional units. In 2022, around 66 000 households claimed entitlement, yet only about 10 000 social apartments existed. Municipal ownership of housing is minimal (0.7 % of the stock), a legacy of a 2006 decision to sell roughly 46 700 municipal flats to achieve fiscal balance. Annual construction of new social homes (≈200) is insufficient to meet demand.

Tenant organisations, such as the “Aktionsbündnis Mietenwahnsinn stoppen!”, highlight the growing power disparity favouring landlords. The article notes that many new builds target the high‑end market, while the proportion of socially priced units remains low (15 % of new construction). Additionally, the expiry of price‑binding periods allows former social flats to be upgraded and priced at market rates, further reducing affordable supply.

The author outlines several regulatory measures aimed at curbing speculation and supporting affordable housing:

• Right of first refusal for municipalities, though limited by a 2021 court ruling.
• Speculation tax on resale within ten years, primarily affecting private sellers.
• Milieu protection zones intended to limit luxury renovations.
• Anti‑misuse regulations requiring vacant apartments in Leipzig to be re‑let after one year, with exemptions for dilapidated buildings. These tools are presented as part of a broader strategy to increase public‑sector housing stock and strengthen housing cooperatives with adequate capital.

The article concludes that enhancing transparency through a nationwide housing register, mandated by the upcoming 2031 census, could improve monitoring of ownership, rent levels and vacancy rates. Greater public ownership and cooperative models are recommended to align housing provision with sustainability goals, ensuring long‑term affordability and reducing the environmental impact of speculative turnover.