Around 1.9 million flats were empty in Germany as of May 15, 2022, census figures show, despite the high demand for housing. This corresponds to a vacancy rate of 4.3%, the Federal Statistical Office reported on Thursday. More than half of the properties, or 55%, have been unoccupied for more than a year. Only just over a third of the empty flats, or 38%, were ready for occupation in the next three months. In the city states of Hamburg, Bremen and Berlin, the share of quickly available flats were significantly higher at 52-61%. Construction measures or renovations were planned for almost one i…