Rents in Grafschaft Bentheim - Why it's more expensive here than in the state average

The figures at a glance

According to an analysis by NDR, based on BBSR data, asking rents in the county of Bentheim rose by 24.1 percent between 2021 and 2024.
The Grafschafter Nachrichten put it in more concrete terms:

"In 2024, Grafschaft tenants paid an average of 24.1 percent more per square meter than in 2021. The average net cold rent here is EUR 9.40."
(Grafschafter Nachrichten, 26.07.2025, author: Vivienne Kraus)

This puts the region well above the Lower Saxony average of €8.55 per square meter (BBSR).

Why are rents rising so sharply?

1. tight housing market in Nordhorn

Nordhorn was officially classified as an "area with a tight housing market" at the beginning of 2025 - a result of an expert opinion by the Lower Saxony state government from December 2023. This classification does not apply to the entire district, but only to the city of Nordhorn.

2. high construction and renovation costs

According to Kerstin van Ackeren, First Chairwoman of the Grafschaft Bentheim House, Apartment and Property Owners' Association, it is primarily the rise in building prices, tradesmen's costs and material prices that are driving up rents.
In addition, landlords can pass on eight percent of the modernization costs per year to the rent - especially in the case of energy-related measures such as the replacement of heating systems.

3. legal framework conditions

Since 2024, cities with over 50,000 inhabitants have been subject to a rent index that allows rent increases of up to 15 % for existing contracts.
The rent freeze applies to new rentals (maximum 10 % above the local comparative rent) - but not for new buildings that were let for the first time after October 1, 2014.

Effects on tenants

The price development particularly affects people on low or medium incomes.
Van Ackeren emphasizes:

"However, many of our members are still trying to keep their rent within a range that is well below the average net cold rent of €9.40. Such prices or more are actually only called for in new builds."
(Grafschafter Nachrichten, 26.07.2025)

Conclusion

Grafschaft Bentheim faces a complex housing situation: high demand, limited supply, rising construction costs and legal leeway for rent increases.
Without targeted measures such as more subsidized housing construction and rapid designation of building land, the trend is likely to continue.

Sources

1. Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR), 05.04.2024: Rents are rising in Lower Saxony - This is what it looks like in your district.
   https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/niedersachsen/Mieten-steigen-in-Niedersachsen-So-sieht-es-in-Ihrem-Landkreis-aus,mietpreise128.html

2. Vivienne Kraus, Grafschafter Nachrichten, 26.07.2025: Above the national average: Why are rents in the county so expensive?
   https://www.gn-online.de/grafschaft/ueber-landesdurchschnitt-warum-ist-mieten-in-der-grafschaft-so-teuer-581712.html

3. Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR), Data evaluation of asking rents 2021-2024.