Protests against housing shortages: What are the politicians doing against high Rents

In several German cities today to protest of thousands of people against housing shortages and rising Rents. The policy attempts, the Trend counter, but with only limited success.

By Alex Krämer, ARD-capital Studio

1.5 million new apartments and houses in Germany - this is the stated aim in the coalition agreement. The SPD and the Union know that the pressure is high. SPD Leader Andrea Nahles considers the issue "extremely important, because this is the new social question in Germany".

CSU-tree construction Minister Horst Seehofer sounds similar: "For me, the social Problem is the question of the development of our Rent today and for the future," he says. Great accents Seehofer has not been set so far, however, he is much more than ... just a moment.

And: most of The money in the construction industry, tens of billions of euros, puts the Grand coalition in a favourite project of the Union: the baukinder money. For Seehofer is "a program that opens the families to the door of your own four walls". Experts of different shades to certify him, however far-reaching effect of weightlessness.

The baukinder money, to promote the construction of housing - indeed, the receiver in the stock is bought by the majority.

With the watering can to the vacancy of tomorrow, promote

families who build or buy, get a year 1200 euros per child for ten years. But: first, there is the money for the purchase of existing dwellings. Calculations indicate that almost 90 percent of the recipients even buy houses and apartments there already. More housing is not created.

Secondly, the promotion, the high prices in the Metropolitan areas of falls rooms. Where the land is cheap, in the country, therefore, could arise through the baukinder money is quite new houses. So, unfortunately, here, where already a lot of housing is standing empty, says Ralf Henger by the Institute of German economy in Cologne.

"working With the watering can here, is really expensive for all of us," says Henger. "Ultimately, it leads to that then too much is being built in the wrong locations. And we are building the vacancy of the morning in a rural area and we see in three, four or five years, then, that we have incorrectly promoted."