There has been a lot of debate in Vietnam over whether to rent or buy a home. Living in Germany, I have noticed that many people here do not buy houses. Most of them rent instead. Here are a few reasons why renting is so common in Germany:
The German government has built many apartments managed by state-owned companies, and the rental prices are very reasonable. These apartments are hard to access, but once you move in, you can stay there for a long time. Some people have been living in these homes for 10-20 years, paying very cheap rents that have only gone up slightly. If I could rent one of those homes, I would not bother buying a home and would instead invest the money elsewhere.
The government provides subsidized rents for people whose incomes are below a certain threshold. They may not qualify for a home loan due to their low income, but they do not need these loans anyway. I have seen people who can afford a home but choose not to.
German rental laws protect both landlords and tenants. Once you rent a home, it is difficult for the landlord to evict you, especially if you have young children, or are pregnant or disabled. If a landlord wants to evict a tenant who refuses to leave, they must hire a lawyer and deal with costly and time-consuming legal procedures. This discourages landlords from evicting tenants and makes them very cautious about choosing renters, carefully evaluating their financial stability and personalities.
Renters do not have to pay for property taxes or home maintenance costs. If something in the house breaks, the landlord is responsible for the repairs. Even if the damage is caused by the tenant, most tenants have insurance to cover such issues.
Germany’s public transportation system is highly developed and convenient, so even if you live far from the city center, you can still commute to work. It might take a bit longer, but it is affordable. For instance, I can travel 30 kilometers from Berlin to Potsdam in just 45-60 minutes by train.
Education and job opportunities are distributed throughout the country, meaning you might live in Berlin this year, then move to Munich the next, and Hamburg the year after that. This mobility leads younger and middle-aged people to prefer renting, as it offers greater flexibility in adapting to changes in work and life. Buying a house is more common among older individuals or those who prefer a stable lifestyle.
Moreover, German companies often base their operations in smaller cities with cheaper property prices to reduce costs. For example, carmaker Audi AG’s headquarters is in Ingolstadt, a small southern city. This discourages people from feeling the need to live in expensive cities.
What are your thoughts on this topic?
*This opinion was translated into English with the assistance of AI. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.
