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Developments in the housing situation of refugees ,
The Brief Analysis 5|2020 conducted by the Federal Office for Migration and refugees examines how the housing situation of refugees developed between 2016 and 2018 and which housing preferences and relocation plans refugees have expressed, taking temporary residence restrictions they may face into account.
To this end, the author analysed data from the first three waves of the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Refugee Survey from 2016, 2017 and 2018, focusing on how the housing situation in general has developed over time, taking legal residence restrictions that may apply into account. In addition to objective indicators such as the type of accommodation, subjective indicators such as the assessment of the size of the dwelling are also examined. Subsequently, the author investigates the question of what housing preferences and relocation plans refugees have, taking temporary residence restrictions they may be subject to into account.
Overview of the most important results
More and more refugees are living in private accommodation
More and more of the refugees interviewed who came to Germany between 2013 and 2016 inclusive are managing to make the transition from shared housing to private accommodation. Whereas the number of refugees with protection status already living in private accommodation was comparatively high in 2016, refugees with other residence status (procedure pending, deportation suspended, with other status) managed to catch up in the two following years.
Satisfaction with housing depends largely on the furnishings and fittings and location
Refugees' satisfaction with the general housing situation decreased slightly in the three years under review (2016, 2017 and 2018). It is evident that refugees in private accommodation are more satisfied with their housing situation if
- the accommodation is located in an urban area,
- the residential area is perceived as safe,
- the accommodation is deemed to be sufficiently large,
- the accommodation is located in an apartment building which is not occupied by other refugees.
In addition, the better the furnishings and fittings of the apartment, the greater the satisfaction. The situation regarding furniture and fittings improved during the period under review, but refugees' standard of living is still significantly lower than that of German nationals.
Refugees subject to residence restrictions frequently plan to relocate once the restrictions are lifted
In 2018, fewer refugees (with the exception of persons whose deportation had been suspended) said they were subject to local residence restrictions than in the previous year. Those who were subject to a local residence restriction were less likely to live in private accommodation than refugees who were only affected by a geographic restriction to one Land or who were free to choose their place of residence. Taking the housing preferences expressed and plans to relocate into account, it is assumed that once the temporary residence restrictions are lifted, there will be an increasing shift in place of residence to urban areas, especially for men and persons with secondary school qualifications.
Currently applicable residence restrictions
Persons whose residence procedure is pending are initially subject to geographic restrictions and are obliged to live in a certain place. This restriction generally applies for a period of three months.
Once their protection status has been recognised, a temporary residence rule may be imposed, limiting their freedom of settlement (Section 12a subsection 1 sentence 1 of the Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG)). Under this provision, recognised refugees are obliged to take up their habitual residence (place of residence) for a maximum period of three years in the Land to which they have been allocated for the duration of their asylum procedure. Furthermore, it is at the discretion of the Länder to oblige foreigners to take up residence in a specific place (Section 12a subsection 2 sentence 1 of the Residence Act). The residence rule can – similar to the geographic restriction – be lifted if the foreigner takes up employment securing a minimum income with full social security coverage or if a hardship exists or exemptions apply (Section 12a subsection 1 sentence 2 of the Residence Act). Once the three-year residence rule expires, recognised refugees can choose their place of residence anywhere in the Federal Republic.
Refugees whose deportation has been suspended are subject to a residence rule, similar to the residence restriction (Section 61 subsection 1 sentence 1d of the Residence Act).
The Brief Analysis was written by: Dr. Kerstin Tanis