Landlords vs Tenants = Top vs Bottom? Class Positions in Rental Housing in Germany
Landlords vs Tenants = Top vs Bottom? Class Positions in Rental Housing in Germany
Author(s): Philipp KadelkeSubject(s): Social differentiation, Family and social welfare, Socio-Economic Research
Published by: AV ČR - Akademie věd České republiky - Sociologický ústav
Keywords: housing; private rental sector; landlord-tenant relation; class; social inequality dynamics; German
Summary/Abstract: Home ownership status is closely linked to social inequality in Germany, where tenants face several disadvantages in multiple dimensions. Even though Germany is one of the biggest renter and therefore landlord nations, in the context of the housing question it is the demand side that has been discussed and studied most. Less attention has been given to the supply side, particularly individual small-scale landlords. This article is one of the first attempts to shed light on the largest provider group that literally holds the keys to homes in its hands. Drawing on quantitative data, this article examines the socioeconomic profiles of landlords compared to tenants over time, finding landlords in the upper strata and witnessing long-term wealth divides in relation to tenants. Coupled with structural power imbalances during tenancies, this research seeks to stimulate research on private renting in the future from a class perspective.
Journal: Critical Housing Analysis
- Issue Year: 10/2023
- Issue No: 1
- Page Range: 66-76
- Page Count: 11
- Language: English