Item — HN Reader

I live in a decent apartment in a big south/west German city, I have a 60k+ salary and yes, I pay a lot in taxes and for rent. There's NO way I have the same quality of life as an unemployed family, while they might get some money from the state it's nowhere close to a 60k salary.

Now, where I do see the problem is that most of the housing is owned by people renting it out (check out Germany in this list [1]). My whole building is owned by the same guy who I guess lives quite a relaxed life out of my rent, while producing nothing. If you want to fight the increase in living costs, I'd start there.

I have no problem with feeding and sheltering refugees.

[1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_home_owne...

1 comments

> Now, where I do see the problem is that most of the housing is owned by people renting it out (check out Germany in this list [1]). My whole building is owned by the same guy who I guess lives quite a relaxed life out of my rent, while producing nothing. If you want to fight the increase in living costs, I'd start there.

Because it's tax smart. If you own real estate, all repair, maintenance costs etc. can be deducted from your taxable rental income. On the other hand, if you live in a property you own, all maintenance costs are paid from your after-tax personal income.

Then close that tax loop. Easier, better, and more effective than blaming immigrants.

Its not a tax loop. And if the laws were changed, the costs would simply be passend on to the tenants, be it directly vor indirectly.

Laws do no change market realities.