Report: Thousands of Federally-Owned Apartments Stand Empty - Sharp Criticism from the Left - Germany's Housing Crisis Deepens as 3,192 Government Apartments Sit Empty
Thousands of federally owned apartments in Germany sit empty despite a worsening housing crisis. A new report reveals that 3,192 flats managed by the government remain vacant—nearly nine percent of its total stock. Critics have called the situation unacceptable as families struggle to find homes.
The Federal Agency for Real Estate Tasks (BImA) controls around 37,000 apartments for federal employees. Yet 3,192 of these are currently unoccupied, according to the latest figures. An additional thousand flats are classified as 'non-market-active', meaning they are not available for rent.
Many of the empty units suffer from defects or are stuck in lengthy renovations. The report does not specify which states have the highest vacancy rates, so regional hotspots remain unclear. Beyond housing, the problem extends to commercial properties—nearly half of the government's 5.5 million square metres of real estate space lies unused.
Caren Lay, housing policy spokesperson for The Left Party, slammed the situation as 'utterly irresponsible'. She demanded immediate repairs for defective apartments and a faster process to rent out vacant units. With 2.6 million square metres of government space sitting idle, pressure is growing to address the waste amid a national housing shortage.
The report highlights a stark contrast between unused federal properties and the country's urgent need for housing. Over 3,000 empty apartments and millions of square metres of vacant space raise questions about efficiency in public asset management. Officials now face calls to act quickly and reduce unnecessary vacancies.
