From BZ/dpa
Before the “housing summit” with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), the federal government agreed on several steps to create more living space.
Among other things, it is planned to suspend a previously planned tightening of energy standards for new buildings, as can be seen from a 14-point paper that was available to the German Press Agency on Monday. The “Spiegel” and the news portal “The Pioneer” had previously reported on it.
Given the difficult environment for housing construction and the high interest rates and construction costs, “the anchoring of EH40 as a binding statutory new building standard is no longer necessary in this legislative period and will be suspended,” says the paper. The traffic light agreed to the EH40 energy saving standard in the coalition agreement for 2025. EH40 means: a requirement of 40 percent of the energy of a comparable new building. Most recently, Federal Construction Minister Klara Geywitz (SPD) distanced herself from the project.
“Climate bonus” is increased
During relevant negotiations at EU level, the government also wants to push for “demanding renovation quotas for the entire building stock”. However, there should be no mandatory renovation of individual residential buildings.
For construction projects, there should be tax advantages through special depreciation rules, the so-called Afa. The “climate bonus”, which encourages homeowners to exchange old, fossil fuel heating systems for new, climate-friendly heating systems, is to be increased and also extended to housing companies and landlords. The states should be able to structure their property transfer tax more flexibly. In the period from 2022 to 2027, “program titles totaling 18.15 billion euros for social housing construction” will be made available to them. In cities and municipalities with tight housing markets, the construction of affordable housing should be simplified and accelerated. KfW funding programs should be made more attractive and expanded.
The planned so-called residential non-profit organization is scheduled to start next year. Landlords who provide permanently affordable housing should receive tax advantages and support. SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert recently called for the Ministry of Construction’s plans to be implemented by 2023.