Volt on housing

Volt wants to gain new housing mainly from existing stock: by converting vacant commercial buildings, densifying and adding floors. Municipalities are also to own more apartments themselves. The platform justifies this with housing that is both affordable and climate-friendly.

Volt wants to create more homes. Empty offices and shops would become apartments. It would be easier to add floors to existing buildings. Cities and towns would own more apartments themselves.

Vacant commercial buildings would be turned into housing with little red tape. Vacancy management, incentives and building orders are meant to bring unused apartments back onto the market. Procedures for conversion, densification and adding floors would be simplified and sped up. Housing concepts that use less floor space per person and strengthen community life would be supported. Municipalities would buy back and build apartments, which the platform says keeps prices stable in the long run.

Volt wants to overcome homelessness with the Housing First approach, under which people are given a permanent home first. In addition, a basic right to adequate and affordable housing would be written into the Basic Law (Germany's constitution). According to the platform, the approach has proven itself internationally.

Volt wants nobody to have to live on the street. Homeless people would get a permanent home first. This is called Housing First. They would also get help, for example with debt and work. The right to an affordable home would be put in the constitution.

Housing First would guide the national action plan against homelessness. Instead of project-by-project grants, there would be permanent funding anchored in social law. Existing buildings would be repurposed and scattered individual apartments newly built; tenancy law and housing subsidies would be changed for this purpose. Accompanying support would include counseling, help with debt and assistance in getting into work. A nationwide monitoring system would check effectiveness and spread successful models.

Volt wants to advance low-cost, climate-friendly housing construction with a dedicated subsidy system. Cooperatives and building groups would get tax advantages, and social housing commitments would last longer. According to the platform, the aim is a lasting basic supply of affordable housing.

Volt wants to support building low-cost homes. The homes should also be good for the climate. Housing cooperatives would pay less tax. Social housing would stay cheap for longer.

The subsidies focus on climate-friendly housing in the lower price range. Cooperatives and building groups would pay reduced sales tax and real estate transfer tax, use special depreciation and receive cheaper loans. The period during which subsidized housing must stay rent-restricted would be extended, with lower construction costs meant to offset this economically.

Volt wants to speed up construction through uniform rules, digital procedures and leaner permitting. The building codes of the federal states would be aligned. The platform sees removing legal obstacles as a route to efficient and climate-friendly construction projects.

Volt wants building to go faster. Building rules should be similar in all states. Applications would be handled digitally. Builders who offer good options for buses, bikes or car sharing would have to build fewer parking spaces.

Planning and permitting would run digitally so that applications are processed more quickly. Authorities would communicate better and streamline their procedures. Parking space regulations would be reformed: where sustainable mobility options are offered, fewer car parking spaces would have to be provided. A digital ministry would develop digital construction processes and roll them out nationwide.