Reading Room - Economy minister promotes planned idleness law
Hessens Economy Minister Kaweh Mansoori (SPD) advocated for the planned vacancy law in the parliament of Hessen. "I am glad that we were able to agree on this in the coalition, and I am happy that I can present the draft to you still this year," he said on Thursday in Wiesbaden. "The vacancy law is there to bring apartments back into the market." Mansoori emphasized that it was "not the golden goose laying the eggs," but it was part of an overall strategy to combat the housing shortage.
According to the Minister, there are 120,000 vacant apartments in Hessen, with 13,000 in Frankfurt alone. No one denies that there are various reasons for vacancy, such as changes in tenants or renovation measures. However, thousands of apartments remain "where we cannot explain the vacancy," and for this vacancy, we are bringing the vacancy law into effect," Mansoori announced an "equitable" regulation that would limit vacancy to six months.
Criticism came, among others, from the FDP fraction leader Stefan Naas: "The Social Democrats are wrong if they think vacancy is a problem." A certain vacancy is even necessary, so that people can move, he explained. With a vacancy rate of four percent, Hessen is in the optimal range. Instead of intervening in private property, creating more bureaucracy, and making housing construction even less attractive, the state government should revive the construction industry, Naas demanded. "Because the problem is not the vacant apartments, but the housing shortage."
- The proposed vacancy law, which aims to reduce vacant apartments in Hessen, is supported by Economy Minister Kaweh Mansoori from the state parliament in Wiesbaden, representing the SPD party.
- Despite the vacancy law being a part of the coalition's strategy to tackle the housing shortage, FDP fraction leader Stefan Naas argues against it, arguing that a certain vacancy is necessary for people to move and that the problem lies in the housing shortage rather than vacant apartments.
- Meanwhile, Kaweh Mansoori points out that there are around 120,000 vacant apartments in Hessen, with 13,000 in Frankfurt alone, and suggests that the law will address the unexplainable vacancies that remain despite various reasons like tenant changes or renovation measures.
- The vacancy law, which limits vacancy to six months, is set to be implemented in Hessen's state parliament in response to the large number of apartments with unexplained vacancies, and will affect the living space of many residents in Hessen's different cities, including Wiesbaden.
