Germany is confronting a growing housing crisis, as demand for homes in major cities continues to outpace supply.

Faced with rising rents, construction delays, and a shortage of affordable housing, policymakers, developers and urban planners are reconsidering long-standing building regulations and planning rules.

Measures once seen as politically or socially unacceptable are now part of the debate, as authorities seek ways to boost construction and cut costs.

The challenge is whether these reforms can deliver enough homes to ease pressure on the housing market.