Racism in Germany's housing market: Minorities face systemic exclusion

WISE NEWS PRESS / BERLIN, GERMANY — DEC. 14, 2025

A recent study by the German Center for Integration and Migration Research (DeZIM) has revealed that Black people and Muslims in Germany face frequent discrimination in the real estate market.

Based on interviews with over 9,500 people conducted between August 2024 and January 2025, the study is the first comprehensive analysis of how minority groups are disadvantaged in the country's housing sector. The findings highlight that housing, a fundamental need, is becoming increasingly difficult to access for non-white residents.

The barrier of name and origin

According to the study, Muslims and Black people are far more likely to be excluded from viewing apartments due to discrimination. The rejection rate stands at 35% for Muslims and 39% for Black people, compared to just 11% for those not subjected to racial discrimination.

Experimental applications using different names for real listings supported these findings. While applicants with German-sounding names had a 22% chance of being invited for a viewing, this rate dropped to 16% for those with common Middle Eastern, Turkish, or African names.

Higher costs for poorer conditions

The report indicates that victims of racism are also disadvantaged regarding housing security. While 12% of this group have temporary rental contracts, the rate is only 3% for those not facing discrimination. Furthermore, racial and ethnic minorities have a 57% probability of living in damaged or defective housing.

Tahir Della, spokesperson for the Initiative of Black People in Germany (ISD), stated that the housing market is "poisoned by racism," noting that landlords rarely admit to rejecting applicants based on race as it is illegal.

Noa Ha, Scientific Director at DeZIM, called for strengthening anti-discrimination laws and providing more affordable social housing, noting that the liberalization of the housing market since the 1970s has complicated the situation for vulnerable populations.

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