Cologne's rental madness: Stefan fears for his beloved apartment!

Cologne's rental madness: Stefan fears for his beloved apartment!

Rental prices in Cologne have risen sharply in recent years, and many tenants such as Stefan from Marienburg feel the effects up close. He lived in a 56-square-meter roofing apartment for over 13 years, which he once paid for 980 German marks. In 2010 he moved to Bayenthal with his girlfriend at the time, where he has lived in a completely renovated, 96-square-meter three-room apartment with two baths and a loggia for 15 years. But now he is struggling to no longer be able to keep this apartment.

Stefan, who separated from his wife two years ago for health reasons, sees himself under pressure. With a monthly income of just under 2400 euros and a rent of currently 1400 euros warm, he has received a roommate who uses a guest room and a second bathroom to handle the costs. "The prices here in Cologne simply rose badly," he explains, complaining about the high construction costs and the investors' profit greed as the essential causes of the unstoppable rental price increases.

rent index and market developments

The situation on the Cologne housing market is also reflected in the current rent index, which is created every two years by the Rheinische Realsbörse in cooperation with various organizations. According to the latest figures, the market in Cologne is lively, with a continuing population growth that the city could bring to over 1.2 million inhabitants by 2040. This development leads to a high new rental quota and continues to skyrocket rents.

Especially in downtown locations and the popular, left bank of the Rhine, the prices are particularly high. In contrast, medium and cheaper locations have become increasingly rare in the urban area, except for the center and the western south. A look at the details of the Cologne rent index clearly shows that the purchase prices for apartments and houses rise even more than rents, which represents additional challenges for future tenants.

Stefan knows all of this too well. "I appreciate myself to have this apartment," he says and hopes to keep it. The concerns and needs of tenants like him are not isolated cases. For many, renting in Cologne feels like a wire rope act, while the demand continues to drive prices to new heights. For more information about the current rental prices in Cologne, a look at ImmobilienScout24 or koeln.de.

The freedom of design and the feeling of security for tenants in Cologne are on the brink. The city has to find paths to counteract this trend. Because the concerns of tenants like Stefan are real and require solutions that make building and living in the cathedral city more affordable again.