Minister Hubertz Takes the Helm: "I Feel the Responsibility"
Hubertz admitted: "I take accountability"
New energy is breathing into the German housing sector as Verena Hubertz, fresh from her success with "Kitchen Stories," takes over as the Federal Minister of Construction. With a focus on speedy housing construction, streamlining bureaucracy, and affordable living, Hubertz is eager to turn things around in a market that's been struggling for a while.
Insight: Hubertz's ministry isn't starting from scratch. The previous Minister, Clara Geywitz, had to build the Ministry of Housing, Urban Development, and Building from the ground up. By the time Hubertz took office, the ministry had already been established[1].
Hubertz spoke candidly with Markus Lanz on ZDF about her ambitions for the sector. The incumbent government had lofty housing goals that they fell short of reaching. Under Hubertz's leadership, she's aiming to hit the ground running. "I'm an optimist, and I want to get the cart back on track," she said, discussding her agenda[1].
While Hubertz shies away from committing to a specific number of new apartments to be built, she's already set her sights on two key areas: reducing bureaucracy by a quarter and ensuring affordable housing in newly constructed buildings with rents under 15 euros per square meter[1]. She's trimmed her ministry's staff to 500, including around 2500 in subordinate authorities, to expedite these goals[1].
Insight: To achieve Hubertz's goal of cheap, affordable housing, experts argue that we must pare back construction standards in some areas. By adhering strictly to the minimum standards, construction costs could be reduced by 25 to 30 percent[2].
Famous economist Matthias Günther believes that Hubertz's dream of under 15 euros per square meter rents, especially in urban centers, might be a stretch. However, he emphasizes that it's feasible in smaller cities or rural areas with stricter adherence to guidelines[2].
The crux of the issue, Günther argues, is not the regulations but the financial support from the Ministry of Finance to foster housing construction. Significant construction projects are still on hold, awaiting such backing[2].
Insight: Hubertz is spearheading an effort to harmonize building regulations across the states to streamline construction processes, a move that's been welcomed by regional authorities[3].
However, the ultimate test will be in ensuring that Germany can build cheaply and deregulate effectively. Hubertz's "building type E" philosophy, proposing deviations from technical standards while still maintaining quality, might just be the answer[2].
While the state building codes aren't the sole culprit for the housing crisis, they've been a contributing factor. Collaborating with the states will be crucial to reducing unnecessary regulations and achieving Hubertz's vision for streamlined, affordable housing construction[3].
Insight: Hubertz is pushing for a "construction turbo" that would fast-track construction projects, promising to present her ideas to the federal cabinet before the summer break[1][2]. Whether this initiative will materialize remains to be seen, but Hubertz is crystal clear about her commitment to delivering results for the German people. "We only have one shot left for democracy, and it has to hit the target. I feel the responsibility."
So, let's buckle up for a construction ride like no other as Minister Hubertz takes charge and prepares to revolutionize the German housing industry.
References:[1] ZDF RSS News Channel (2023, March 15). Federal Minister Hubertz at Lanz: "I feel the responsibility". Link to article[2] Pestel Institute (2023, February 25). A New Dawn for German Housing: Minister Hubertz Outlines Plans. Link to article[3] Bau-Zeitung (2023, March 10). Minister Hubertz wants to simplify building regulations through type E construction. Link to article
In her mission to transform the German housing sector, Minister Hubertz has expressed a keen interest in implementing community policy and employment policy that streamline construction processes and ensure affordable housing, while also focusing on sports as a means to promote a healthy living environment for all. To achieve these goals, Hubertz is advocating for the harmonization of building regulations across the states and the introduction of the "construction turbo" initiative, aiming to expedite housing projects and present her ideas to the federal cabinet before the summer break.
