Frankfurt's Vacant Apartments Highlight Housing Shortage
Two apartment buildings in Frankfurt's Nieder-Eschbach, totaling 78 units, have remained vacant since 2008, despite efforts by local authorities and the recent introduction of a law against speculative vacancy, highlighting a broader housing shortage and the challenges in managing unoccupied propert...
Frankfurt's Vacant Apartments Highlight Housing Shortage
Two apartment buildings in Frankfurt's Nieder-Eschbach, totaling 78 units, have remained vacant since 2008, despite efforts by local authorities and the recent introduction of a law against speculative vacancy, highlighting a broader housing shortage and the challenges in managing unoccupied propert...
Progress
60% Bias Score
Hesse to Fine Owners of Vacant Properties Up to €500,000
Hesse will introduce a new law to combat speculative vacancy of real estate by allowing municipalities to impose fines of up to €500,000. The law addresses a vacancy rate of 3.9% (over 122,000 dwellings), aiming to limit vacancy periods to six months unless justified by factors such as renovations.
Hesse to Fine Owners of Vacant Properties Up to €500,000
Hesse will introduce a new law to combat speculative vacancy of real estate by allowing municipalities to impose fines of up to €500,000. The law addresses a vacancy rate of 3.9% (over 122,000 dwellings), aiming to limit vacancy periods to six months unless justified by factors such as renovations.
Progress
40% Bias Score
Munich Housing Debate Exposes Deep Political Divisions
A Munich housing policy panel discussion revealed stark differences between conservative and progressive parties regarding rent control, land speculation, and tenant rights, impacting affordability and investment.
Munich Housing Debate Exposes Deep Political Divisions
A Munich housing policy panel discussion revealed stark differences between conservative and progressive parties regarding rent control, land speculation, and tenant rights, impacting affordability and investment.
Progress
56% Bias Score
UK Faces £50bn Housing Shortage Due to Thatcher's Right-to-Buy
Margaret Thatcher's 1980 right-to-buy scheme, while enabling over 2 million council tenants to buy their homes, depleted the UK's affordable housing stock to 4.1 million today from 5.5 million in the 1970s, creating a £50bn shortfall to reach 2010 levels, with over 40% now owned by private landlords...
UK Faces £50bn Housing Shortage Due to Thatcher's Right-to-Buy
Margaret Thatcher's 1980 right-to-buy scheme, while enabling over 2 million council tenants to buy their homes, depleted the UK's affordable housing stock to 4.1 million today from 5.5 million in the 1970s, creating a £50bn shortfall to reach 2010 levels, with over 40% now owned by private landlords...
Progress
40% Bias Score
German Construction Sector Projected to Grow in 2026, but Housing Shortage Persists
Germany's construction industry is expected to grow by 2% in 2026, following years of decline, but this growth is insufficient to address the ongoing housing shortage, with housing construction remaining significantly below 2021 levels, prompting calls for a social housing program.
German Construction Sector Projected to Grow in 2026, but Housing Shortage Persists
Germany's construction industry is expected to grow by 2% in 2026, following years of decline, but this growth is insufficient to address the ongoing housing shortage, with housing construction remaining significantly below 2021 levels, prompting calls for a social housing program.
Progress
36% Bias Score
Dutch Citizens Prioritize Domestic Issues Over International Affairs
A new SCP study reveals that 63% of Dutch citizens want their government to focus more on domestic issues and less on international affairs, citing concerns about housing shortages, asylum seeker reception, and high energy prices, a sentiment echoed in similar studies from 2011 and 2018.
Dutch Citizens Prioritize Domestic Issues Over International Affairs
A new SCP study reveals that 63% of Dutch citizens want their government to focus more on domestic issues and less on international affairs, citing concerns about housing shortages, asylum seeker reception, and high energy prices, a sentiment echoed in similar studies from 2011 and 2018.
Progress
40% Bias Score
US Existing Home Sales Plunge to Near 30-Year Low
US existing home sales in 2024 hit a near three-decade low of 4.06 million due to record-high home prices ($407,500 median) and elevated mortgage rates (peaking at 7.22%), although December saw a slight increase, and experts predict continued challenges in 2025.
US Existing Home Sales Plunge to Near 30-Year Low
US existing home sales in 2024 hit a near three-decade low of 4.06 million due to record-high home prices ($407,500 median) and elevated mortgage rates (peaking at 7.22%), although December saw a slight increase, and experts predict continued challenges in 2025.
Progress
40% Bias Score
Dutch Social Rental Housing Construction Falls Short of Government Targets
From 2020-2023, 275 of 342 Dutch municipalities built less than 30 percent social rental housing, despite government targets and long waiting lists; the government may mandate construction, but corporations cite funding shortages and sustainability upgrades as obstacles.
Dutch Social Rental Housing Construction Falls Short of Government Targets
From 2020-2023, 275 of 342 Dutch municipalities built less than 30 percent social rental housing, despite government targets and long waiting lists; the government may mandate construction, but corporations cite funding shortages and sustainability upgrades as obstacles.
Progress
36% Bias Score
German Housing Shortage Hinders Refugee Integration
A study of over 2400 refugees in Germany between 2015 and 2019 reveals that a housing shortage forces refugees into high-unemployment areas, hindering their integration; prosperous regions show little refugee population increase, despite labor shortages.
German Housing Shortage Hinders Refugee Integration
A study of over 2400 refugees in Germany between 2015 and 2019 reveals that a housing shortage forces refugees into high-unemployment areas, hindering their integration; prosperous regions show little refugee population increase, despite labor shortages.
Progress
36% Bias Score
UK Housing Approvals Plunge to Record Low, Jeopardizing Labour's 1.5 Million Home Pledge
The UK saw a record low of 2,260 planning approvals for new housing projects between July and September 2024, jeopardizing Labour's pledge to build 1.5 million homes and highlighting the challenges of high interest rates and opposition to development.
UK Housing Approvals Plunge to Record Low, Jeopardizing Labour's 1.5 Million Home Pledge
The UK saw a record low of 2,260 planning approvals for new housing projects between July and September 2024, jeopardizing Labour's pledge to build 1.5 million homes and highlighting the challenges of high interest rates and opposition to development.
Progress
52% Bias Score
Spain's Housing Market Booms Amidst Severe Shortage, Not Bubble
Spain's housing market is experiencing rapid price increases and high sales, but experts dismiss bubble fears due to a massive housing shortage estimated between 600,000 and 1.5 million units, impacting affordability.
Spain's Housing Market Booms Amidst Severe Shortage, Not Bubble
Spain's housing market is experiencing rapid price increases and high sales, but experts dismiss bubble fears due to a massive housing shortage estimated between 600,000 and 1.5 million units, impacting affordability.
Progress
52% Bias Score
Berlin's Fast-Track Construction Law Wins Nabu's 'Dinosaur of the Year' Award
The Nabu awarded Berlin's Senate the 'Dinosaur of the Year' award for its fast-track construction law, criticized for prioritizing speed over environmental protection and community participation, potentially jeopardizing green spaces and accelerating climate change impacts.
Berlin's Fast-Track Construction Law Wins Nabu's 'Dinosaur of the Year' Award
The Nabu awarded Berlin's Senate the 'Dinosaur of the Year' award for its fast-track construction law, criticized for prioritizing speed over environmental protection and community participation, potentially jeopardizing green spaces and accelerating climate change impacts.
Progress
56% Bias Score