Newcomer Constanz secures initial apprentice housing

In an effort to address the housing shortage and attract more young people to apprenticeships, WOBAK, the municipal housing association, is building a dormitory for apprentices in the Konstanz district of Wollmatingen. The project, funded by the "Young Living" program of the state, is scheduled to begin construction in the spring of 2026 and is expected to be completed in the middle of 2027.

The facility will consist of 30 apartments, each around 15 square meters in size. Each apartment will be equipped with a kitchenette, bathroom, common room, and large kitchen. The cost per apartment is planned to be between 300 and 350 euros per month, making it about a third cheaper than a shared apartment in Konstanz.

The Chamber of Crafts Konstanz reports that businesses increasingly have difficulty finding or retaining skilled workers due to a lack of affordable housing. Many young people wish to do an apprenticeship in Konstanz but cannot afford it due to high rents. The Chamber states that this housing shortage is a disadvantage for the regional economy.

The Wollmatingen dormitory is one of the first of its kind nationwide, according to WOBAK. The Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) Hochrhein-Bodensee considers the project to be sensible. Representative Heinrich of WOBAK's management states that apprentices earning between 600 and 1,000 euros a month cannot afford to pay 500 euros for a room. As such, the apartments in the Wollmatingen dormitory will be rented to training companies, who can then sublet them to their apprentices.

Malte Heinrich also states that WOBAK is not renting apartments through businesses for the apprentice dormitory. Instead, the apartments will be directly managed by WOBAK to ensure affordability and quality for the apprentices.

The WOBAK is investing around three million euros in the Wollmatingen dormitory project. The building permit for the dormitory is expected in the fall of 2025. The Wollmatingen dormitory is not the last potential apprentice dormitory in the region, according to representative Heinrich. He expects high demand for the Wollmatingen dormitory model.

The city of Konstanz is facing a shortage of apprentices, and this affordable housing solution is expected to help attract more young people to the area and support the regional economy. The Wollmatingen dormitory project is a significant step towards addressing the housing shortage and providing affordable accommodation for apprentices in Konstanz.