Bamberg on the verge of a housing shortage: 6,800 apartments are missing!

Bamberg on the verge of a housing shortage: 6,800 apartments are missing!

Bamberg is facing a dramatic housing shortage that affects not only the city itself, but also the surrounding regions. According to the report by webecho-bamberg.de There are currently 880 apartments in Bamberg and 2,590 apartments in the district that have been empty for more than a year. These unused living spaces are a clear sign of the tight housing market. Apartments that remain unrented for a long time are difficult to re-rent, which further exacerbates the situation.

The Pestel Institute has examined in detail the population development and the forecasts for housing construction in the Bamberg region. According to this, around 970 new apartments will have to be built every year over the next five years in order to meet demand. However, in the first half of 2023, only 186 building permits were issued for new apartments in Bamberg and 187 in the district. These figures are alarming and show that the necessary construction capacity falls far short of what is needed.

Construction problems and political scope for action

Matthias Günther, the chief economist at the Pestel Institute, describes the required construction work as “not feasible” under the current conditions. He is calling for a low-interest program for construction money with a maximum of 2 percent interest so that builders have more incentive to invest. The President of the Federal Association of German Building Materials Trade, Katharina Metzger, is critical of the new federal government's lack of short-term incentives for housing construction. In her opinion, housing construction is an important driver of the domestic economy and must be made a top priority in order to ward off insolvencies of construction companies and job losses.

Another point of criticism is the excessive energy saving requirements, which have massively increased rents without bringing any significant ecological benefits. In this context, there are also calls to simplify building regulations in order to create more and more affordable housing, which is supported by many market players.

The role of IG BAU

The IG BAU also advocates a reduction in construction standards in social housing. Its chairman Robert Feiger emphasizes the need to make this area more affordable, especially with regard to noise and climate protection. High costs due to thick walls and ceilings as well as triple-glazed windows are cited as reasons for prices of up to 7,000 euros per square meter, especially in large cities.

According to Feiger, 100,000 new social housing units must be created every year to counteract the crisis. However, the current trend in election manifestos shows a clear focus on promoting property ownership, while social housing is often neglected. This could have long-term effects on tenants, who already have to pay up to 35 percent of their net income for housing costs.

So the pressure on the political agenda regarding housing is increasing. At the same time, platforms such as Facebook Marketplace show how important it is for citizens to find and offer affordable housing options. On the Facebook Marketplace connects the local community and provides a platform for buying and selling real estate, which can be an important measure to alleviate the housing crisis.

Overall, Bamberg is facing a challenge that urgently requires political solutions. The voices of experts and citizens must be heard to ensure the quality of life in the region.