Berlin misses housing goals: Experts warn of debacle!
Berlin misses housing goals: Experts warn of debacle!
Berlin's housing construction remains behind the ambitious goals in 2024. According to Bausenator Christian Gaebler (SPD), only around 15,000 new apartments are to be built, which represents a further decline compared to previous years. The coalition agreement between the CDU and SPD stipulates that at least 20,000 apartments have to be built annually. But reality looks different: a total of almost 50,000 apartments have been built in the past three years, but the Situation remains tense, especially due to economic uncertainties and an upcoming Bundestag election, as Gaebler notes, which also addresses the challenges within the construction industry. According to the general manager of the industry association HDB, Tim-Oliver Müller, a “debacle” for housing construction will be expected for the coming year, since there have been hardly any new building applications for two years.
First positive developments in social housing
In contrast to the general challenges, social housing in Berlin shows an enjoyable development: almost 5,100 applications for the construction of social housing were approved in 2024. This represents a sudden increase compared to only 3,492 permits the year before, Gaebler confirmed. The increasing figures are due to improved economic framework conditions, since more players in the housing industry are willing to participate in the funding. "We benefit from this development in two ways," says Gaebler, who points out that private companies are now making prices to urban societies more often.Nevertheless, the growing demand contains challenges. Gaebler warns that if the interest in funding is increasingly increasing, there may not be enough funds available. This means that priorities will have to be set in the future in order to continue to promote housing construction. There are currently 99,849 social housing in Berlin, which is a decline compared to the previous year, while rents have increased at the same time. Therefore, the question remains whether the present initiatives of the Senate are sufficient in order to create the urgently needed living space, especially in view of the 30-year social bond, which applies in the capital, such as berliner-zeitung.de reported.
The introduction of the "Faster Building Act" should accelerate the construction process in the future, but Gaebler expressed skepticism that the new regulations will have a noticeable impact. A lengthy planning process is expected before the desired improvements are visible. The Senator emphasizes how important it is that builders receive reliable information and receive faster feedback via approval applications in order to counteract the lack of living space in the capital. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen how the developments of the market and the political framework will affect the construction figures and the future housing situation in Berlin, such as rbb24.de analyzed.
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