“Approval procedures that are too long and far too few building plots with speculative price expectations from the seller are the bottleneck for fast and efficient construction,” said the GdW Federal Association of German Housing and Real Estate Companies. (Image: Thorsten Schnug)
“The trend is right, but the dynamic is flattening out too much.” Axel Gedaschko, President of the umbrella association of the housing industry GdW, the building permit figures published today by the Federal Statistical Office. Compared to 2019 there was one Increase of almost 8,000 or 2.2 percent. However, the momentum in building permits has subsided in times of the corona crisis. In 2019, the increase compared to the previous year was four percent. Especially with the Apartment buildings falls the current rise of the building permit numbers for 2020 0.4 percent very low.
“In order to really promote affordable living in Germany, a stronger and lasting boost in building permits is necessary. To do this, we need enabling authorities that pave the way for sustainable and social building, ”says Gedaschko. “The last year in particular made us feel painfully that we were completely off track with procedures from the stagecoach age in building permit procedures, but also in planning and award procedures. We have to digitize, accelerate and become more efficient. “
BFW
calls for greater focus on metropolitan areas
BFW President Andreas Ibel calls for a detailed examination. “In metropolitan areas, affordable housing is still scarce and expensive,” said Ibel in Berlin. Both the regional distribution of building permits and the proportion of single and multi-family houses are decisive.
“The slight increase in the number of building permits should not hide the fact that we are still a long way from the actual need for new construction, especially in the metropolitan areas,” says the BFW President. Although there are building permits for new ones One and two family houses clear growth (2.4 and 20.5 percent, respectively). In contrast, the number of multi-family houses is stagnating (+0.4 percent). “Building permits have to be issued quickly, especially where affordable housing is urgently needed, and that is the metropolises,” adds Ibel. He refers to the declining number of building permits in Berlin and lower completion numbers for 2020 in Hamburg.
“We need the common political will for more new construction at the federal, state and local levels if the increase in rents is to be dampened in the long term. This also requires planning security for the medium-sized real estate and housing industry. Difficult regulations, lengthy approval procedures and constant interference with tenancy law make investments in new buildings unattractive. The example of Berlin shows that rent policy completely bypasses demand, ”said Ibel, referring to the rent cap in the capital.
The BFW President also demands that politicians place a stronger focus on the development of city centers in view of the Corona crisis. “If we want attractive and lively inner cities in the future, we have to make it easier to live there,” Ibel emphasizes. “The Corona crisis requires quick decisions and lean processes in all areas – including construction.”
ZIA calls for a regulatory moratorium
From the point of view of the Central Real Estate Committee (ZIA), the central association of the real estate industry, the stagnation of building permits and, above all, the decline in approved apartment buildings in the A cities is a heavy burden to relieve the strained housing markets in the metropolises.
“We need a regulatory moratorium. After a legislative period that was characterized by new regulations, you can now see that the problem has not been solved, but has been exacerbated, ”said ZIA President Dr. Andreas Mattner. “The building land mobilization law is the next brake that will now be applied. It would make more sense to implement the planning acceleration act and review the 20,000 building regulations. Building has to be faster, easier and therefore more attractive; only then will more apartments be built. “
Mattner calls for a new start in building policy for the coming legislative period. “A real alliance of politics, the real estate industry and tenant representatives with the clear objective of creating more living space would be the right way to go. The current prevailing climate of opposition must become a climate of togetherness. We are ready for a fresh start! “
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