Easing housing-related challenges for family units - Easing the housing strain faced by families seeking accommodations
Green Party Advocates for Affordable Housing Solutions in Germany
The Green Party in Germany has proposed measures to alleviate the burden on families searching for affordable housing, particularly in urban areas. Lisett Stuppy, the party's family policy spokeswoman, told the German Press Agency that providing support for families sharing their homes or downsizing could ease the housing search.
To facilitate renovations, the ongoing revision of the state building code is planned to offer builders and municipalities more flexibility, as stated by Stuppy. She also advocated for a nationwide rent cap to address the housing crisis in cities and metropolitan areas.
Daniel Köbler, the social policy spokesman for the Greens and Mayor of Mainz, acknowledged the importance of increasing public funding for social housing. He proposed longer binding periods for social housing to ensure affordability in the long term.
As revealed by Minister of Housing Doris Ahnen (SPD), the number of apartments with at least four rooms has remained unchanged in the state since 2019. However, Ahnen pointed out that self-used residential property is an essential component of the housing market, and the government is supporting households with low and middle incomes in the purchase and construction of self-used residential property.
The new coalition government of CDU/CSU and SPD, established in May 2025, is implementing a comprehensive housing policy to promote affordable housing and ease the housing search. Key measures include boosting housing construction, reforming building regulations, increasing investment in social and affordable housing, supporting cooperative and non-profit housing models, expanding rental regulations to protect tenants, providing incentives for homeownership and climate-friendly construction, focusing on barrier-free and age-appropriate housing, and empowering smaller cities and municipalities.
While these efforts aim to address the housing crisis, the number of new builds has decreased since 2024 due to high construction costs and interest rates. Critics argue that previous rental laws may have discouraged landlords from expanding the housing supply, exacerbating shortages in urban areas.
Keywords: Housing, Green Party, Doris Ahnen, Mainz, Rent Cap, German Press Agency, Affordable Housing
The Green Party in Germany has proposed additional measures to support affordable housing, which includes advocating for a nationwide rent cap and long-term binding periods for social housing. To improve one's lifestyle with a focus on home-and-garden projects, a more flexible building code revision is planned to facilitate renovations.
