DeZIM study spotlights racism in German rental market

A recent study by the German Centre for Integration and Migration Research (DeZIM) has revealed up-to-date information about racist practices in the German rental market.

DeZIM: Racism widespread in German housing market

A study by DeZIM has shed light on the current state of racist discriminatory practices in the German rental market. “Unequal treatment in the housing market is not a marginal phenomenon,” DeZIM’s researchers explained.

“People with the same prerequisites are treated differently, based on racist selective processes,” added the study’s lead author, Tae Jun Kim. To conduct the study, DeZIM surveyed 9.500 racialised (“rassistisch markiert”) people, who self-described as black, asian, muslim or eastern European, and German citizens who identified as white or as having “no migration background”.

39 percent of black respondents, 35 percent of muslim respondents, 31 percent of respondents who identified as "German with a migration background", 27 percent of asian respondents and 24 percent of eastern European respondents said they have experienced discrimination in the form of not being invited to flat viewings.

This is in contrast to the just 11 percent of non-racialised respondents (who identified as white or "German without a migration background") who said they had experienced discrimination in the form of not being invited to a viewing.

Researchers also sent out fictional applications for genuine rental advertisements, leaving income and other basic information unchanged, but varying the supposed applicants’ names and interests. Rental agencies and landlords replied less regularly to the supposed applicants with names common in western Asia and Africa, and sent fewer invitations to view a property.

As a result of this discrimination, racialised people in Germany are more likely to live in small spaces, the study explained. They are also more likely to have insecure rental contracts, pay more for rent and live in housing which is poorly maintained, meaning they are more likely to be exposed to damp and mould.

Ataman says discriminated groups should be better supported

In response to the study’s findings, independent Federal Commissioner for Anti-Discrimination, Ferda Ataman, called for more support for those facing discrimination in the rental market, according to a report by Die Zeit.

Ferda urged those affected to contact government-run advice centres for those experiencing discrimination, adding that anti-discrimination law must also be updated so that “it actually helps people”.

If you have experienced discrimination in the German rental market, at work, while interacting with organisations and agencies, or in education, you can read our article on how to report harassment or discrimination in Germany or contact the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency for personalised advice.