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Greens demand: Munich's criminal justice center must not be sold!
On October 8, 2025, the Bavarian Greens are calling for the sale of the old criminal justice center in Munich to be stopped in order to secure affordable housing.
Greens demand: Munich's criminal justice center must not be sold!
The discussion about the old criminal justice center on Nymphenburger Strasse in Munich is keeping people in the city on edge. The latest emergency motion from the state parliament Greens is a clear statement: the sale of the central state property must be stopped immediately. Christian Hierneis from the Greens sees this measure as a mistake, especially in times when rents are continually rising. “This area must remain in public hands and must not end up in the pockets of investors,” emphasizes Hierneis. The significance of this decision and the potential impact on the housing situation in Munich have already been intensively discussed. The evening newspaper reports that the AbbruchAbbruch initiative is also actively campaigning for affordable housing on the site.
After the commissioning of a new building on Leonrodplatz, the Free State of Bavaria plans to sell the old criminal justice center. But the Munich tenants' association is anything but enthusiastic about this project. They criticize the sale as insufficient for housing policy and demand much stronger commitment from the Free State. The SPD Maxvorstadt proposes converting the main building into a cultural center and creating affordable living space in the rear area. “Ultimately, we need solutions that go beyond pure profit,” the SPD makes clear. The Ministry of Construction is justifying the sale with the tight budget situation, and the creation of luxury apartments is not an option after the sale, according to the minister. Nevertheless, discussions are already underway with the city of Munich to enable affordable housing even after the sale, reports the TZ.
Criticism of housing policy
The situation on the housing market in Munich should not be underestimated. According to a study by the “Social Housing” association, there is a shortage of around 550,000 apartments nationwide - primarily due to high immigration numbers and inadequate new construction. Rents in big cities are rising rapidly. The average net rent in Munich is already 20.59 euros, while the effect of the rent cap is repeatedly questioned, as the Federal Agency for Civic Education reports.
Current figures clearly show: 52% of people in Germany live on rent - compared to other countries such as France or Spain, this is a very high proportion. The low level of construction activity and many empty apartments, a significant proportion of which have been unused for more than a year, are further aggravating the situation. In May 2022, 1.9 million apartments across Germany were empty, with a vacancy rate of 4.3%. The housing situation in Munich and other large cities is anything but rosy. The decline in social housing since the 1990s is also alarming, which is reflected in an increased proportion of rent burdens - many households now have to pay more than 50% of their income for rent.
A look into the future shows that the federal government has set itself the goal of creating 400,000 new buildings every year. But the number will actually only be around 294,400 in 2023. If things continue like this, the tense housing situation in the city could worsen further.