Entertainer Michael Schanze Finds New Apartment in Munich
The 79-year-old television host avoided moving into a senior residence after months of searching for a new home.
German television host and musical composer Michael Schanze has successfully secured a new apartment in Munich, avoiding the need to move into a senior residence. The 79-year-old entertainer found his new home through the real estate portal Immoscout, according to reports from the Munich newspaper tz.
Schanze's housing search began after he publicly disclosed his predicament in the spring of 2026. After living for 13 years in a roughly 2,000-square-foot house with a garden in the Obermenzing district of Munich, he was forced to look for a new place because his rental contract was terminated due to planned demolition work on the building. He is required to vacate the property by the end of the year.
The search proved to be exceptionally challenging due to specific medical and professional requirements. Schanze suffers from a progressive neurological condition that limits his ability to climb stairs. Additionally, as a musical composer, he needed a home spacious enough to accommodate a concert grand piano for his work.
While his current residence houses three grand instruments, he noted that he could part with two of them. However, even a single piano requires considerable space, prompting the entertainer to search for a property measuring over 1,000 square feet with a budget of 3,000 euros for monthly rent.
As the deadline for his departure approached, Schanze faced mounting anxiety. In late September, he revealed to the magazine Das Neue Blatt that if his housing search failed, his backup plan was to relocate to a senior living facility.
Fortunately, that backup plan will not be necessary. His new apartment is located close to his current home in the Obermenzing neighborhood, allowing him to stay in the familiar surroundings where he has lived since 2011. Since the passing of his partner, Uschi, in 2024, he had been living alone in the larger house.
Although his new living quarters will offer less than 1,000 square feet of space—a significant reduction from his previous 2,000-square-foot residence—the successful search brings a wave of relief for the veteran television personality as he prepares for the upcoming transition.