Ask Lemmygrad

Owning rentals will very likely color your thinking in time. Personally, I decided I was better off not having to second-guess myself over whether they were coloring my point of view, so I got out.

I'd say live in it or sell it. Sure, you may have to pay taxes on that money you make, but it's money you wouldn't have had otherwise (that, and you would have to pay property tax if you held onto it). I don't see why the concern about taxes would push you into being a landlord.

as I would have to pay hefty taxes. Letting it stand empty does not make sense.

You can always rent it for a while and think better about your situation. Just selling it and putting the money in the bank just means the bank will be using your money to possibly cause way more damage than you could anyway. Buying shares, at least if you don't even work in the company is bad too, so holding on to the apartment is not the worst thing you could do and if you sold it it's possible the new owner would just rent it too.

If you rent you could always see if the person living there would like to buy it from you and so you can even give them a discount based on how long they lived there if you think it's better too.

and I’m planning to sell it in about 5 years when we’re gonna be looking for a new place with my parents.

If you already know when you need the money you can alway do the math and see what is the best option for you. Let the money stay in the bank, keep the apartment until them... And also check the risks, as in my country, as an example, the goverment has taken peoples savings about thirty years ago when the inflation was bad so who knows if they will do it again. So if you were in my country puting the money in savings would have an extra risk, while perhaps there might be countries where the goverment has made housing cheaper before and could do so again, meaning holding on to the house might not be the best idea either.

I am currently in a slightly similar situation (bought flat 1.5 years ago, was laid off, decided to leave country, if I sell I will incur fines from bank/loss vs purchase price).. I decided to rent the home until I could sell it and 'break even' hopefully in 2 years. I set the rent at as close to what I have to pay the bank+insurance+small amount (<100€) for impending repairs. This was under market (I did not actually research the market) as I received a lot of interest and comments when I posted it. I met about a dozen potential tenants in person. I let them know that I did not want to be a landlord and that I would be selling the place as soon as I could break even but that I would be the best landlord I could be regarding the living situation in the flat. I rent to a woman who seems happy with the arrangement. I hate being a landlord but I also don't want to suffer more financial hardship after being laid off and leaving country. I figure I am at least helping someone to live in a decent place for a 'fair' price that would be hard to come by otherwise.. Further, not making actual cash profit makes me feel a bit better. But I am creating equity in the property as I pay down the principal ever-so-slowly using this woman's rent money.. I don't feel good about it on the whole and will be happy to be rid of it.