Minister Hubertz on Lanz: "Got my work cut out for me"
Hubertz expresses a sense of responsibility
The new federal government's aim is to make substantial progress in the housing sector. Minister Verena Hubertz, the young, energetic head of the Ministry of Housing, Urban Development, and Building, is ready to take on the challenge. She'll discuss her vision and plans on ZDF's Markus Lanz show tonight.
Germany currently faces a housing crisis, with over a million fewer social housing units than at the end of the 1980s. The previous government failed to meet its targets in housing construction. Now, Minister Hubertz wants to turn things around and create more affordable social housing.
A Fresh Perspective and a Promising Minister
Hubertz, who sold her successful cooking platform for an undisclosed sum estimated to be around 26 million euros, could have easily retired. Yet, she's eager to make a difference, especially in the housing sector. "We build too slowly, too expensively, and too little," she said during her election to the Bundestag in 2021. Although she hasn't specified a number for new apartments to be created, she promised, "We will build as much as we can."
Hubertz understands the importance of regional differences and will consider demographic changes and immigration patterns when setting targets.
Streamlining Bureaucracy and Affordable Housing
To speed up the construction process, Hubertz aims to reduce bureaucracy by 25%. She also plans to offer affordable housing in new buildings, even adjusting monthly rents to be below 15 euros per square meter. As a first step, she's lowered her ministry's staff count to 500 and around 2,500 subordinate authorities.
Economist's Take on Hubertz's Goals
Economist Matthias Günther from Hannover's Pestel Institute doubts that rents of 15 euros per square meter in new buildings are feasible. "Low rents in major cities like Hamburg, Cologne, or Munich are wishful thinking," he said. Günther believes that affordable housing can be achieved in smaller cities or rural areas by adhering to construction standards and reducing costs without compromising quality.
Is There a Stimulus Package in the Works?
Reducing bureaucracy is one aspect, but the construction industry still needs funding to boost housing construction. Günther suggests the need for a housing construction stimulus package from the Ministry of Finance for a quick impact. Hubertz is aware of this challenge and is actively discussing the matter with the federal states.
A Collaborative Effort
Construction is a nationwide issue that requires collaboration among all levels of government. Hubertz is advocating for harmonizing regulations and building type E to make construction less costly and bureaucratic. "We have to find ways to build cheaply and unbureaucratically," she said. With the help of the Building Ministers' Conference, she's working towards streamlining regulations and getting things done efficiently.
In conclusion, Minister Hubertz's approach focuses on collaborative efforts across governments, process improvements, and a flexible strategy to address local housing needs rather than specific numerical targets.
The minister's employment policy, aligned with the community policy, aims to streamline bureaucracy within her ministry to expedite housing construction. Hubertz's vision for technology integration could play a significant role in achieving this goal, as she envisions a more efficient process for housing development.
The upcoming discussions on politics, such as the Markus Lanz show, will shed light on Hubertz's strategies for tackling the general-news topic of the housing crisis in Germany, including her goal of creating more affordable social housing. The economist's comments on her plans for rent affordability in new buildings highlight the need for careful consideration of financial feasibility, especially in major cities. Nevertheless, Hubertz's advocacy for harmonizing regulations and collaboration among all levels of government suggests a comprehensive approach to addressing the nationwide issue of housing construction.
