Green Party Demands Billion for Housing Policy Restart - Bavaria's Greens Unveil Comprehensive Housing Plan to Tackle Shortage and Speculation
Bavaria's Greens have outlined a comprehensive housing policy, aiming to tackle the state's housing shortage and speculation. They propose a range of measures, including giving municipalities more control over empty buildings and encouraging landlords to rent below market price.
The Greens demand a restart for Bavarian housing policy, criticizing Markus Söder's approach. They propose several initiatives to boost housing supply and affordability. Notably, they suggest municipalities should have the right of first refusal for empty buildings vacant for over ten years, with a compulsory cadastral register and levy for such properties. Additionally, they propose abolishing the real estate transfer tax for acquiring the first self-used home and offering interest-free loans for conversions, extensions, and new buildings via BayernLB or the German Credit Bank.
To incentivize landlords, the Greens suggest deregulating the rent brake and offering tax advantages for those who rent below market price. They also call for more 'property on time', such as 99-year hereditary building rights, to curb speculation with building land. The Greens aim to create 200,000 new apartments in Bavaria by 2035, with an average of 100 apartments built per municipality in the next decade. Furthermore, they suggest municipalities should have the opportunity to levy the 'property tax C' on long-term unused plots of land.
The Greens' proposals also include an immediate 'housing billion' for municipalities, in addition to planned budget funds. These measures are set to be discussed at the Greens' state party conference in Erlangen, where board elections will take place and a federal political speech by party chairwoman Franziska Brantner is expected.
