[Genego]

The problem is that these investors have raised rents nationally to a point where there is no affordable housing outside of social housing (8-15+ year wait lists). And this happened in a very short time period. If I'd want a 60-80m2 apartment in the city I currently live, I'd have to pay 1000-1200+ Euro for that; three to four years ago, that would have been half. Just over the border in Germany the same apartment goes for 350-500 Euros (NRW to be specific). The housing market here feels beyond crazy. Real estate prices themselves are also exploding +10%~ month over month

[iamnotwhoiam]

Is that because Germany had banned property investment or because supply keeps up with demand in Germany?

[Genego]

Germany has much better tenant and rental market protection. Real estate prices are rising rapidly, but supply does seem to keep up with demand when it comes down to renting. Population density in Germany also is only half that of the Netherlands (240 vs 508 per km2), so that also helps. If you're priced out somewhere, you always have the option to move somewhere else. In the Netherlands you don't have much of a option right now when it comes down to renting (and mostly buying as well).

[imtringued]

It sold social housing and stopped building more of it. If you had asked about real estate 10 years ago you'd hear about how Germany solved the housing problem.