Properties for Sale and Rent in Leipzig

The city of Leipzig has undergone dynamic changes over the past few decades, resulting in a forward-looking city that seizes opportunities and actively seeks out and responds to new challenges. This is partly in order to sharpen its competitive advantages over other cities. Ever since Reunification in 1990, Leipzig has risen to the challenges and taken advantage of the opportunities that sprang out of the transformation process. The many phases of urban development have had lasting effects on the fabric of the city, for example the historic city centre, the Gründerzeit districts, and the social housing projects of the GDR. Leipzig city planners and public officials are aware of the importance of long term impacts of decisions made today.

The majority of Leipzigers are long term renters. And therein lies an issue for new residents who are in Leipzig for only a short or an uncertain period of time. The market for short or medium term furnished rental property is not as developed as it could be.

Standard German tenancy contracts or what I call ‘German-style’ renting dominates the market. This usually involves installing your own kitchen and always requires providing your own furnishings right down to curtains and light fittings. As well landlords often want to check your local references and income sources before handing over keys.

Like all across Germany at present property prices are inching up. Financing remains cheap and Germans, ever cognizant of hyperinflation during the Weimar Republic years, increasingly want to put their savings “into bricks”. Leipzig property can be divided by a north-south line through the Zentrum into the cheaper east (‘ost’) half and more expensive west (‘west’) half. There are some pockets of exceptions but this general rule applies.