That's a double edge sword. Would you rent your place to people knowing they can stop paying and trash your place and you can't get rid of them? I'm not a landlord but this scenario would scare the hell out of me, which is probably why German landlords ask for so may documents(bordering on privacy violation), and are so picky when choosing tenants that apartment hunting is basically a part time job in Germany.

>it's usual for people to choose to rent for life

Most people don't choose the rental life, but they don't have a choice, since property prices in German cities are far out of reach of the middle class who doesn't have inherited wealth or financial assistances from parents.

Renting is fine when you're young and employed, but owning your place of living outright by the time of your retirement, is still better for you financially, than having to pay rent as a retiree, as most likely rental costs will go up faster than inflation and wage growth as per current trajectory, and your pension will be too small to pay for living costs and rent on top of that, whereas if you pay off your mortgage until then, your retirement will be much less stressful.