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Berlin (dpa) - work, learn, kill time - all at home.
For months, many Germans have been at home more often than usual, and some more than they'd like.
Corona has increased the importance of the apartment.
An additional room to work, a garden to breathe deeply - more people are now longing for that.
According to a current study, apartments are becoming more expensive, single and two-family houses are becoming more expensive, but rents are stagnating.
Landlords warn of conflicts in some large estates, precisely because people are less likely to get out.
Corona has an impact on the real estate market.
Neighborhood conflicts could intensify in already polluted districts, believes the landlords' association GdW.
The corona crisis is putting the social stability of residential areas to the test.
"In polluted neighborhoods the social problems threaten to worsen, in less polluted neighborhoods the social networks intensify as a result of the exceptional situation," said association president Axel Gedaschko.
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Even before the crisis, there was an increase in violence, disturbances of the peace and disregard of house rules in some residential areas, as well as intercultural and generational conflicts.
"There can be no business as usual with regard to polluted residential areas," demanded Gedaschko.
His Federal Association of German Housing and Real Estate Companies (GdW) mainly represents cooperatives and municipal housing companies, but also private sector giants such as Vonovia and Deutsche Wohnen.
Together they call for more state work in the neighborhood.
Otherwise outbreaks of violence are also possible.
Many tenants cannot afford to move.
But the time of exorbitant rent increases is probably over, as Bernd Leutner, the head of the private Hamburg research institute F + B, thinks.
Its data show that those who move in do not pay more than they would if they moved a year ago.
From July to September, just 0.1 percent more was due than a year earlier.
Compared with early summer, new lease rents even fell slightly.
Existing rents were 1.4 percent above the previous year's figure.
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The largest cities, including Munich, Berlin and Hamburg, are slightly above average.
F + B observes that there is still a high level of demand from owner-occupiers and investors.
"The rental market is still surprisingly robust and stable from a landlord's point of view."
In particular, the short-time work allowance is still keeping many tenants solvent.
Notable failures did not occur with the landlords, it was said at the GdW Association Day in Berlin.
But Corona also taught that you don't necessarily have to live in the city for many professions.
According to surveys, more and more companies are planning to work from home even after the crisis.
Many people place more value on more living space or outdoor space, according to recent surveys.
The surrounding areas of metropolises are also becoming more popular.
In the second quarter, the prices for private homes rose sharply.
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The price increase for single and two-family houses continues unchanged, according to the F + B analysis published on Monday.
In the third quarter, single and two-family houses were on average 8.6 percent more expensive than the same period last year.
This meant that private homes grew even more than condominiums, which were also significantly more expensive by 5.5 percent.
"We are of the opinion that the corona pandemic has generated an additional and apparently sustainable surge in demand with a limited supply at the same time," said Leutner.
There is now relief for many tenants in Berlin.
Hundreds of thousands can expect their excessive rent to be reduced after the second stage of the rent cap came into force on Monday.
The Senate reckons that rents will have to fall in 340,000 apartments.
F + B even assumes around 512,000 apartments.
The average reduction is 40 euros.
The parliamentary group leader of the Berlin SPD, Raed Saleh, sees the controversial law as a model for other cities.
The parliamentary deputy of the Greens in the Bundestag, Oliver Krischer, disagreed on Monday: "It is a measure that specifically addresses the Berlin situation," he said.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 201123-99-437285 / 2