Minister Hubertz Aims to Turn Around Germany's Housing Crisis
No construction plans for Hubertz when it comes to a residential dwelling.
Take a seat, folks! The new federal government has grand plans for addressing the housing shortage in Germany. The fresh face leading the charge is Minister Verena Hubertz, who's waltzing into her role with the mission of creating affordable social housing and revamping the housing market. In an interview with ZDF, she unravels her strategies and the challenges she intends to conquer.
After the previous administration hit a brick wall en route to their ambitious housing goals, it's time to shake things up. The SPD is back in the saddle, and they've chosen a dynamic, 37-year-old minister with a proven track record in the startup world. The former "Kitchen Stories" startup owner, who pocketed around 26 million euros from her venture, has no intentions of resting on her laurels. Her sights are squarely set on something more challenging – tackling Germany's housing crisis.
One million social housing units are currently available, a staggering drop from the four million units that existed at the end of the 1980s. Hubertz divulges her grand plans for reversing this trend and building her way to a brighter future for German homebuyers.
Entrepreneurial Spirit and Optimism"I'm an optimist, and I aim to get the cart back on track," Minister Hubertz succinctly lays out her aspirations. Elected to the Bundestag in 2021, she has prior experience in construction, housing, and the economy. She's adamant that the construction process is swept up in indecision, chest-thumping prices, and paltry output.
She doesn't wave her magic wand and promise a specific number of apartments to be constructed, like her predecessor did but failed to achieve. Instead, she advocates for flexible thinking that takes into account regional differences in immigration, demographic changes, and housing demands. In essence, Hubertz is willing to play it by ear and adapt her strategies to the ever-changing housing landscape.
Streamlining Bureaucracy and Steering Toward AffordabilityTo attain her ambitious goals, Hubertz plans to trim bureaucracy by a whopping 25 percent. She strives to create affordable housing in new buildings, aiming for monthly rents of less than 15 euros per square meter. She's already slimmed down her own ministry, reducing its employee count from about 2,500 (including subordinate authorities) to a lean 500.
However, economist Matthias Günther cautions that achieving rents under 15 euros per square meter in urban centers may be challenging due to high land costs. He suggests focusing on smaller cities and rural areas as a more feasible path. Günther pioneered a study last year that lamented the historical underfunding of social housing.
The Path to Affordable Housing: Streamlining and Smart BuildingGünther suggests that strict building standards have inflated construction costs by up to 5,000 euros per square meter. By loosening up these requirements, construction costs could be slashed by a significant 25 to 30 percent, his analysis indicates. Hubertz appears to be on board, promoting the concept of "Building Type E," which champions building economically while still maintaining a high standard of living.
Additionally, Hubertz asserts the importance of intergovernmental cooperation in addressing the housing crisis. She's been engaging her counterparts in the federal states to reduce regulations and streamline the construction process. She believes the time has come for streamlined cooperation to tackle this critical issue.
The Road Ahead: A Housing Stimulus Package?Though Hubertz doesn't intend to specify a number of apartments to be built in the near future, she assures the public that significant action will be taken to tackle the housing crisis. She seems undeterred by the lack of a housing construction stimulus package in the coalition agreement, expressing her eagerness to find solutions to jumpstart the construction industry.
One can only hope that Hubertz's dynamic spirit, entrepreneurial analyses, and determination will infuse the housing market with new vigor. It's going to be a bumpy ride, but all aboard! Change is in the air, and this minister isn't deterred by the task at hand. "We have one shot left for democracy, and it has to hit the mark," Minister Hubertz says, echoing the weight of the task on her shoulders. Here's to change for the better! 🥧⛏️🏠
"Minister Hubertz's employment history in the startup world, coupled with her leadership role in the housing and construction sectors, appears to influence her approach to addressing the housing crisis. This approach includes streamlining bureaucracy and advocating for more flexibility in housing policies, demonstrating a connection to the broader theme of politics and general-news."
"In her mission to create affordable social housing and revitalize the housing market, Minister Hubertz has proposed ideas such as the 'Building Type E' concept and intergovernmental cooperation, which can be associated with community policy and policy-making."
