housing shortage - The Bund wants to simplify building
Fewer power outlets, thinner insulation: The Federal Government aims to make building simpler and cheaper. The SPD-led Ministry of Construction presented guidelines in Berlin on Tuesday for the so-called Building Type E, which allows planners and builders to agree on lower building standards. The corresponding document is intended to provide orientation for practice.
The guideline contains recommendations on how to make agreements on lower building standards as legally secure as possible and examples for simplifications, for example in flooring, power outlets and wiring, or room temperature.
"Building Type E" provides relief
"Building must be made simpler and cheaper again, without sacrificing safety," explained Building Minister Klara Geywitz (SPD). "Here, Building Type E will be used." The Federal Government now intends to bring the necessary legislative changes into effect.
Housing associations had complained that building was often done to the gold standard because of feared legal issues. This led to high costs, making the housing unaffordable for consumers. They had demanded that many unwritten standards in housing construction be questioned. The Federal Government is now responding to this with the so-called Building Type E – where E stands for simple or experimental.
The President of the Federal Chamber of Architects, Andrea Gebhard, said that by giving up unnecessary building standards, building and renovation processes could be accelerated. In addition, resources could be used more efficiently. "This significantly contributes to the creation of affordable housing and the promotion of innovative building projects."
Building costs as the cause of housing shortage
According to the plans, contractors could deviate from cost-intensive standards legally during construction, explained Geywitz. This could mean the omission of cellars, fewer balconies, or fewer sound insulation measures. Both the construction industry and users would benefit from such agreements, as building would become cheaper. Building costs are the main reason why affordable housing is in short supply in Germany.
Clara Geywitz, the SPD-led Building Minister in Berlin, emphasized the need to make building simpler and cheaper without compromising safety, introducing Building Type E as a solution. This initiative aims to address the issue of housing affordability, as high construction costs due to adhering to strict standards have been a major contributing factor to the housing shortage in Germany.
