German Minister Says: Move to the Countryside to Beat High City Rents
Germany is facing its biggest housing shortage in over 20 years, especially in major cities like Berlin and Stuttgart. With rent prices going through the roof, Housing Minister Klara Geywitz has a different idea: move to the countryside. She points out that there are almost two million empty homes in rural areas, where "two-thirds of the German population live in regions where housing is affordable." With big cities getting too expensive, the government is seriously considering this as a solution.
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The Struggle in Big Cities
Even with measures like the 2015 rent cap, extended again in 2024, many people in Berlin are still paying way too much for their rent. Daniel Halmer, CEO of Conny, a company that helps tenants fight illegal rent hikes, estimates that about 75% of Berliners are overpaying. According to Immoscout24, rent prices in Berlin and Stuttgart went up by 8-9% in just the first few months of 2023, making it nearly impossible for many to find affordable places to live.
Rising Rents in the Countryside
Rural areas used to be cheaper, but that’s starting to change too. Since the COVID-19 pandemic made remote work more common, more people have been moving out of the cities, which has driven up rents in smaller towns and villages. In 2021, rent in medium-sized towns jumped from 3.4% to 4.1%, and in small towns, the increase was even bigger—from 3.1% to 5.1%. So, the housing crisis isn’t just an urban problem anymore.
Geywitz’s Plan to Make Rural Living More Attractive
To tackle these issues, Minister Geywitz has a three-part plan to make the countryside more appealing:
Work From Home: She wants to make sure more people can work from home, so they don’t have to live close to their workplace.
Better Transportation: Geywitz plans to improve public transport between cities and rural areas, making it easier for people to commute if needed.
Faster Internet: Expanding fibre optic internet is a big part of the plan, so people living in the countryside can have the same fast internet as those in the cities.
Geywitz believes these steps will not only ease the pressure on city housing but also breathe new life into rural communities, making them great places to live.
What’s Next?
By the end of the year, Geywitz plans to roll out a full strategy to promote rural living as a way to solve the housing shortage. The goal is to fill those empty homes in the countryside and provide a real solution to Germany’s housing problems. Improving infrastructure and making it easier to work from home could change where people choose to live in Germany.
Would You Move?
With all this in mind, would you consider moving from a big city in Germany to the countryside? What would make you decide to stay or go? Share your thoughts—we’d love to hear what you think!
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