Start of the semester, but no apartment in sight

Finn searched for a room for weeks before starting his studies. Now he sleeps temporarily on a folding bed in the basement of a student dormitory – along with five strangers. Affordable housing is hard to find for many students. According to the Student Residential Report 2026, a shared room in Heidelberg costs on average almost 700 euros per month. In large cities such as Munich and Hamburg, average rents are even higher. This is why the Heidelberger Studentenwerk is more concerned than ever that affordable housing will decide who can even start studying. ---- Here on ZDFheute Nachrichten you will find out what is happening in the world and what concerns us all: We provide an overview in the news world, explain the background and enter into social debates. Discuss with us in live streams and form your own opinion with the facts we present to you.