Insufficient measures taken for empty apartments in Stuttgart?
In the bustling city of Stuttgart, a housing crisis looms as the demand for apartments continues to outpace the supply. Despite efforts from the city administration to return vacant apartments to the market and penalize owners, the scarcity of housing persists.
According to the city's statistical office, approximately 11,000 apartments are currently vacant, with a vacancy rate of 3.5 percent. This rate has been slightly decreasing since 2011, but the decrease has not been enough to meet the growing demand. Not every vacant apartment in Stuttgart is illegal, but around 6,100 have been vacant for more than half a year, making them subject to the ban on purposeful underutilization.
The city administration is doing everything possible to return vacant apartments to the market. Citizens can report vacancies in Stuttgart, which are then individually checked by the Building Authority. However, the current staffing for checking vacancies is insufficient, according to Rolf Gaßmann, chairman of the Stuttgart Tenants' Association.
One of the strategies to reduce vacancy rates in Stuttgart is accelerating the construction of new residential units. Companies like Vonovia are investing heavily in new construction and modernization projects, but many of these housing units will only be completed from 2027 onwards, which delays immediate relief to vacancy and housing shortages.
The Stuttgart Tenants' Association finds current measures inadequate due to timing delays, affordability gaps, and policies failing to tackle the root causes of vacancies effectively. The association emphasizes that the demand-supply imbalance persists and rental prices continue to rise, exacerbating affordability issues and limiting tenants' access to housing.
The high demand for affordable housing in Stuttgart is particularly among families. The ban on purposeful underutilization in Stuttgart has been in effect since 2016, with the Building Authority having two staff positions dedicated to this issue. Since the imposition of fines, around 30,000 euros have been imposed in Stuttgart. Gaßmann suggests that fines could be imposed more often to combat vacancy and serve as a deterrent.
The lack of affordable housing is not only a concern for tenants but also for the Baden-Württemberg construction industry. In a demonstration in Stuttgart in March 2024, the industry highlighted the lack of affordable housing as a hindrance to recruiting skilled workers.
The focus on expanding car sharing services and introducing green mobility initiatives in Stuttgart reflects broader urban planning efforts but does not directly address housing vacancy challenges. The growth in the serviced apartment sector, while seeing robust demand, may not contribute sufficiently to reducing general housing vacancies or affordability concerns for average residents.
In an effort to address the housing crisis, the city of Stuttgart has secured 400,000 square meters of replacement living space and compensation payments of over two million euros. However, the challenge remains to ensure that these new housing units are affordable and that the root causes of vacancies are effectively addressed.
In conclusion, Stuttgart continues to struggle with housing vacancies amidst growing demand. While efforts are being made to increase housing supply through new builds and renovations, the Stuttgart Tenants' Association finds current measures inadequate due to timing delays, affordability gaps, and policies failing to tackle the root causes of vacancies effectively. The call for more staff, more frequent fines, and better publicity of vacancy reporting mechanisms underscores the urgency of addressing this critical issue in Stuttgart.
- The Stuttgart Tenants' Association has emphasized that the high demand for affordable housing, particularly among families, requires immediate attention to combat vacancy and housing shortages.
- To address the root causes of vacancies, the Stuttgart Tenants' Association suggests imposing fines more often as a deterrent for purposeful underutilization of apartments.
- The Baden-Württemberg construction industry recognizes the need for affordable housing as a means to recruit skilled workers, adding to the urgent call for addressing housing vacancies in Stuttgart.
