Student rents blow up the 500 euro limit-what now?

Student rents blow up the 500 euro limit-what now?

The housing costs for students in Germany have exceeded a worrying brand. According to the latest surveys, the average rent at the beginning of the winter semester 2023/2024 is now 505 euros per month. This represents an increase of 2.4 percent compared to the summer semester 2023 (493 euros) and a relevant increase of 3.3 percent compared to the winter semester 2022/2023. These developments are particularly alarming, since many students have a low income and have to spend over 50 percent of their available income for housing costs, according to Tagtps://www.tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/verzuser/wohnkosten-studierendende-auszubendendend-hoch-100.html).

In an analysis of 88 university locations that include more than 5,000 students, a regionally different picture of rental costs is shown. In Berlin, the average rents are 650 euros, while in Hamburg they are 620 euros and 603 euros in Bavaria. In comparison, the rental costs in Saxony-Anhalt with 350 euros and Thuringia with 362 euros are significantly lower. The project manager Stefan Brauckmann expresses concerns about this spread of housing costs and calls for an increase in the BAföG and an expansion of the group of claims so that more students can receive support, reports [rbb24.

The challenge of living cost burden

Despite the BAföG flat rate of 380 euros, which is below the rental costs in 70 out of 88 cities, many students have to compromise. Students alone have the highest living cost burden with 54 percent of their income, while those who live in a flat share spend about 37 percent of the income for rent. In general, over 62 percent of student budgets need more than 40 percent of their income for housing costs, which they classify as overloaded, as the ZDF reports.

The current living cost burden is particularly critical in view of the financial initial situation of many students. Over half of the students with their own housekeeping has a net equivalence income of less than 930 euros per month. In addition, around 42 percent of their income comes from their own employment, with a large part of the students also dependent on private support, BAföG services and other income. Trainees are also affected by high housing costs, with an average living cost burden of 41 percent of the income, which increases the consideration of the introduction of measures to support students and young professionals.

Perspectives and measures

In response to the increasing housing costs, Brauckmann not only calls for an adjustment of the BAföG, but also the continuation and expansion of the federal program "Young Living". Measures like this could help in the long term to reduce pressure on students and improve the living situation. Hamburg has also introduced a law for faster housing construction to counter the lack of affordable living space.

In view of these challenges, it is essential that politicians take the concerns of the students seriously and take suitable measures to relieve them. This is the only way to prevent education in Germany from becoming a luxury goods.