Housing market: When real estate is only given out secretly

Few sentences arouse as much hope in those looking for an apartment as this one: "I know someone who is moving. The apartment is becoming available, should I put you in touch?" Especially in big cities, the most promising route to a new apartment is not through official advertisements on the Internet, but through personal contacts and Whatsapp groups.

Many apartments change tenants away from the publicly visible market. There is no question that good apartments have always often been sold out of hand. However, there are many indications that the phenomenon is getting worse.

As is often the case, the solution lies in more supply

An evaluation by the German Economic Institute shows that the rental supply in large cities has fallen by up to 57 percent. One reason may be that fewer people are generally moving and they prefer to keep their cheap rental agreement. But the result also suggests that some apartments are no longer being advertised.

This is only logical for the individual. Everyone knows how scarce housing is. Anyone who moves out of their rented apartment suggests friends and acquaintances to the landlord as new tenants. Overall, this is changing the real estate market.

An apartment doesn't necessarily go to those who need it most, but to those who have the best contacts. It is particularly difficult for those who move to a city for the first time. In extreme cases, this can lead to professionals no longer moving to another region, even though they could find a better job there.

Of course, you cannot force a landlord to officially advertise your apartment. That would also be wrong. The causes of the problem, the correct regulation and the high construction costs can also be debated for a long time. The only thing that is clear is that, as is so often the case, the solution lies in more offerings.