A study analyzed the possibility of creating more living space in which seniors would move into smaller rental apartments. The result is astonishing.
- According to a nationwide representative study, more than ten million square meters of living space can be created.
- To do this, seniors would have to move to smaller apartments.
- Many people would be willing to do so under certain conditions.
The housing market * is highly competitive. And although more and more is being built, rental prices are not getting cheaper. Those who dream of owning a home are also increasingly confronted with horrendous sums. But there is another way to create living space, as a study by the real estate developer Pantera in collaboration with the YouGov research institute suggests. In April this year, 2,095 people from all 16 federal states were interviewed.
More living space possible when seniors move to smaller apartments
The analysis dealt with how much living space could become free if senior citizens moved to smaller apartments. The conclusion: "If older people in Germany receive adequate offers to move into smaller apartments, extensions, additions or conversions in vacant houses or apartments can create around one million square meters of new living space in cities like Hamburg or Berlin alone . The relatively largest According to our calculations, there would be potential in Heilbronn, Salzgitter, Bremen and Saarbrücken. In this way, more than ten million square meters of new living space could be available nationwide, "explains Micheal Ries, Pantera's board member.
That is why seniors often live in large living spaces
This is because, according to the study, senior citizens living alone have an average of 100 square meters of living space in their own homes . Many of them used to live in the household with their life partner and children. According to a survey, almost three quarters of all Germans (73 percent) know of several older people who live alone on large living space, but who previously shared it with the family. From this it can be deduced that many seniors live in properties that are too large for their needs - but which would be just right for families looking for a home.
Also interesting : Study: How much can the key service actually cost?
Find suitable alternatives for seniors
The study also found in the survey that 53 percent of Germans were quite willing to move into a smaller apartment in old age and thus give up the larger living space - but only if they were adequately replaced. 79 percent of those questioned are " adequate housing costs " at the retirement home * important, but also "walking opportunities in the countryside", "a wide range of medical care nearby" as well as "pedestrian shopping opportunities for daily needs" should be available.
As a solution to the problem, the real estate developer Pantera suggests the construction of so-called "serviced apartments", that is, 1 to 3-room apartments, where services such as a shopping aid or a laundry service can be booked as required . However, what that would cost or where these apartments could be built remains unanswered.
Read also : New study on Covid-19: Corona viruses are most frequently lurking in the household.
"Undeveloped location" and "well preserved": that is what real estate codes mean
To the photo gallery
* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.