BSW on housing

The BSW wants public investment to create significantly more social and non-profit housing, plus dormitory places for students and trainees. Publicly owned apartments and land should no longer be privatized unless they are for the buyer's own use.

The BSW wants more affordable homes to be built. The state should pay for this. Public housing should not be sold to companies. Students and trainees should also get more dorm places.

Especially in municipalities with tight housing markets, the stock of affordable apartments is to grow again with public money. Municipal, cooperative and non-profit housing providers are to receive more support. The program treats housing as a basic public service that should not be an object of speculation. Citizens should be able to buy shares in municipal housing cooperatives to lower rents and build wealth. Vacant housing is to be put to better use.

The BSW wants to effectively limit rent increases and considers a nationwide rent cap a suitable tool. Purchases of large housing portfolios by profit-driven investors are to be restricted.

Rents should no longer rise so fast. The BSW supports a rent cap for all of Germany. A rent cap is an upper limit on rents. Big investors should not be allowed to buy so many apartments.

Limiting rents is meant to ease the burden on households. In the BSW's view, the housing market should not be shaped by financial investors seeking returns. At the same time, vacant housing is to be used better and the housing market steered regionally.

The BSW wants to make building faster, simpler and cheaper without compromising on quality and safety. Owner-occupied housing is to be promoted; for young families, property tax on it is to be eliminated entirely.

Building should become faster and cheaper. Building permits should be available online. There should be fewer new building rules. Young families should pay no property tax on their own home.

The plans include a construction acceleration law with fixed deadlines, digital building applications, special depreciation, allowances on the real estate transfer tax, and low-interest KfW loans and guarantees. Additional building land is meant mainly for homes for families and first-time buyers. The BSW rejects mandatory QNG sustainability standards and similar certifications and calls for a moratorium on new building rules plus type approvals for serial and modular construction. More skilled workers are to be gained through training bonuses, support for master craftsman qualifications and easier immigration. Renovation is to take priority over new construction to save land.

The BSW wants uniform statewide minimum requirements for what housing and heating costs count as reasonable for people on social benefits. So far, each county and independent city sets this on its own. According to the platform, this leads to regional differences and legal uncertainty.

People on social benefits also get money for rent and heating. Each county decides how much is reasonable. The BSW wants the same minimum rules across the state. Everyone should be treated the same way. There should also be fewer lawsuits.

This concerns housing and heating benefits under Germany's Social Code books II and XII. The platform notes that the state social court has repeatedly found municipal guidelines inadequate. It says the results are unequal benefits for equal needs, uncovered rent, and many appeals and lawsuits. Alongside the minimum requirements, a professional support structure for municipalities is to be set up. Rising rent and heating costs are to be cushioned socially.

The BSW wants to use affordable vacant buildings to keep or attract creative professionals and university graduates. Projects combining living and working space are to be funded. Added to this are trial-residency stipends and "bridge years" at universities.

Many buildings in Saxony-Anhalt stand empty. The BSW wants to use them for artists and young people. They should be able to live and work there. Artists from big cities should live there free for six months as a trial. Graduates may keep using university workshops.

Cooperatives offering housing and studio space in the same building would also receive support. The trial residency is designed as a stipend giving creatives from big cities half a year of free living and working in rural areas. During bridge years, graduates could keep using their university's workshops and facilities for one to two more years. The condition is that they register their business in Saxony-Anhalt.