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The author wrote that living costs had doubled in 20 years, mainly due to government interventions. In his opinion, housing would only become cheaper if more apartments were built; however, increasingly strict regulations from the state were preventing this. https://t.co/TfCeB8Dha5 #Wohnen #Mieten #Baupolitik #DE (translated)

The bookstore at the market in Offenbach will close at the end of the year, as high rents and rising costs make it difficult to run a profitable business, while many independent booksellers are seeking partnerships with large chains like Thalia and Hugendubel in order to survive. #Buchhandel #Krisenbewältigung #Buchhandlungen (translated)

The 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal, who triggered nationwide protests and political controversies due to her eviction in Madrid, has died, further heating the discussion about the housing crisis in Spain and leading to new elections. #Wohnungsnot #Zwangsräumung #Mietensteigerung (translated)

Dr. David Lütke wrote that in Germany the social and pension systems were collapsing and rents were becoming unaffordable. At the same time, Germany had to pay for the social system, pensions, rents, and weapons for Ukraine. He wrote that Tagesschau was very concerned about Ukraine and reacted to that with vomiting emojis. https://t.co/nn6NKg0BpD #Sozialsystem #Rente #Mieten (translated)

Christian Miele listed twelve challenges that Germany must overcome, in his opinion. Electricity and labor are expensive for companies: employers pay an average of around 45 euros per work hour, about 29 percent more than in the EU. In addition, high network fees and levies have increased energy costs; Germany exited nuclear power before sufficiently cheap and reliable alternatives were available. Long approval processes, according to Miele, also deter companies from investing. He named demographic change, rising contributions, and immigration that often does not lead to employment quickly enough as further problems. The shortage of skilled workers is real, he wrote, but uncontrolled immigration burdens households and municipalities. The Bundeswehr is also still inadequately equipped after decades of underfunding: the NATO target of 2 percent has long been missed, and there is still a lack of personnel, ammunition, and operational equipment. Miele wrote that Germany’s economy is hardly growing on its own: it shrank in 2023 and 2024 and only grew by 0.2 percent in 2025. Industry is producing less than it did a few years ago. In addition to taxes, levies, and energy costs, he pointed to weak demand, competition from China, and a lack of new products. In education, about one in three 15-year-olds does not reach the basic level in mathematics and reading; the gap between children from poor and rich families is as large as it has been since the beginning of the PISA tests. At the same time, there is a shortage of teachers and many school buildings are dilapidated. Among the further challenges, Miele listed the need for renovation of roads, bridges, railways, and schools. The municipal investment backlog is over 200 billion euros, about 55 billion of which is for schools alone. In his view, excessively high rents, low construction activity, and long approval processes also make it difficult to move to cities with open positions. The state is slow in digitization; many applications are still on paper, and internet coverage in rural areas is patchy. Finally, Miele warned that government spending is increasing without the economy growing correspondingly. Pensions, social services, and interest compete with defense and infrastructure for the same funds. If debt grows faster than economic output, there will be less room for investment later on, he wrote. Ultimately, the working people would bear the consequences, Miele explained, and he asked for his readers' assessments. #Herausforderungen #Wirtschaft #Deutschland (translated)

Pedro Sanchez's minority government in Spain has fallen into crisis due to the housing shortage after two controversial decrees aimed at combating rising rents and evictions were rejected in Parliament, triggering nationwide protests and calls for new elections. #Wohnungsnot #Zwangsräumungen #Proteste (translated)

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has suffered a defeat in Parliament with a package of measures to combat the housing crisis, as his two decrees were rejected due to the resistance of conservative and right-wing populist deputies, which could possibly lead him to call for early elections. #Wohnraumkrise #Mieten #Sánchez (translated)

Rents for student housing in Germany continue to rise, with Munich remaining the most expensive city at an average of 880 euros per month, while Chemnitz is the only city where the BAföG housing allowance of 380 euros fully covers the rental costs. #Mieten #Studierende #Wohnen (translated)

„Enteignungen sind die falscheste aller möglichen Antworten auf den Wohnungsmangel in Berlin. Ein Eigentümerwechsel schafft keine einzige neue Wohnung.“Der Berliner IHK-Präsident Sebastian Stietzel sagt: „Enteignungen sind die falscheste aller möglichen Antworten auf den Wohnungsmangel in Berlin. Ein Eigentümerwechsel schafft keine einzige neue Wohnung.“ #Mieten #Baupolitik #Enteignung