Deutsche Wohnen chief criticized by Berlin : the new building fails too often to the interests of individuals News

No topic is as big as the debate about housing in Berlin: Michael Zahn, chief of the German Wohnen, writes about the errors of the Berlin construction and housing policy. Click here to read his guest post.

"The lack of housing is everywhere. In Berlin alone, nearly 200 000 homes missing up to the year 2030. Families will find no affordable place to Stay. Many are wondering how they should rent according to the next move. Activists groups have identified the alleged culprit: Private-sector housing companies, especially the Deutsche Wohnen. The "Miethaie" are to blame, you and your greed for money.

If only it were that simple. First, the facts: The average rent for a 60m2 apartment of Deutsche Wohnen is located at 580 euros per month. Anyone who refers a household income of more than 1800 Euro net, pays less than 30 percent of his salary for rent. Nearly a third of household income for Housing, which was once common scale – and even referred to the rent.

it Means that everything is in order? Not in the least. We must do something now to address the lack of housing. We will succeed only if all relevant stakeholders pull together: Responsible politicians, public and cooperative owners, as well as private housing companies, factual and critical media, and of course the tenant.

When we talk of housing shortage, this is mainly due to the influx of people into the cities, the so-called urbanization – a for years, unbroken Trend. In 30 years will live in, according to an estimate by the United Nations, two-thirds of humanity in cities.

A practical example from the neighbourhood of the Olympic stadium

But the supply of apartments in the big cities is scarce. Especially apartments in rent-controlled and publicly funded Segment and the width of the middle is missing. The best answer to this development is new construction. We are in need of housing. We engage here, we have planned the construction of 2500 new homes by the end of 2022.

We can and want to build more. Sadly, projects fail all too often to the interests of individuals and that processes are deliberately delayed. An example: We have been negotiating for six years on a project in the Westend, where we tear down 200 homes and 600 re-build.

Michael Zahn, since 2008, Chairman of the Board of the real estate group Deutsche Wohnen.Photo: promo

We all had to be negotiated, everything was cut and dried. Since then, however, nothing happens, because the requirements of the district and country now also. We will not come.

I'm not asking for any tax breaks or subsidies. Us a safe environment, reliable appointments with the authorities and get a fair communication range economically.

"From the sins of the "Express"-design

to learn" The example could, in fact, be a good example for the city. Berlin has very many well-connected, and fully developed land, on which a gentle compression with a contemporary sustainable new building imposes itself almost.

With a view to the long investment cycles in the real estate sector, it is essential to build today for the future. It is not enough to build only inexpensive. We need green and sustainable building. Settlements that are no longer in a few years, attractive for the residents to the Stigma. Berlin had to spend a lot of public money in order to repay the sins of the "Express"design of earlier decades. We should learn from that and make it better.

The CO2 tax is coming

climate change and its impact on our planet are a fact. Worldwide, young people demonstrate and call on us to act now. . The housing industry can play a key role. Almost a third of the CO2 emissions to your account. At the same time, the need to understand business, politics and society, climate protection does not come for free. In other words: The housing sector is also responsible to improve our CO2 balance sheet.

A legacy of the British. The houses from the 1950s are gone. According to the German Living in the fabric of the building is to bad for a...photo: Cay Dobberke

I'm sure: A CO2 tax is coming. I would welcome that even if this tax is socially equitable and just. We invest more than one billion euros in energy efficiency and residential quality of our existing buildings. Three-quarters of the cost of the renovations, not our tenant. If our tenant would have to pay after extensive renovations and more than 30 percent of their household net income, we apply the hardship provision and caps voluntary levy Modernization. As a result of our residential units have on average a better energy balance than the national average. If the CO2-tax will benefit our tenants, our apartments will energetically be much better than the other.

Good and people are worthy of, is for each of us is important. But it must be achieved also without distinction – regardless of the income of the tenants – the apartment costs are the same for everyone? Is it really fair that a verbeamtetes dual-earner couple – she's a Professor, he was a teacher – benefits from Rent control or the scheduled rent cover as a Single parent with a part-time job in retail?

Expropriate helps any tenants

I am clear that the housing market is differentiated. The individual's income circumstances determine the financial performance of rent. We should result develop open models and to discuss the help the really Weak and needy in the housing market. The Rent for the better-off to lids with a great deal of legal effort, contributes to social justice and creates not only affordable housing.

If we talk about the big Trends, one thing is certain: These challenges can only be met with United strength to cope. Required substantial investments of the company are process, as well as short approval. We need the understanding of the tenants for ongoing changes, as well as observers, accompanying the action critical-in a constructive way.

Deutsche Wohnen is your responsibility. We invest extensively in new construction and effective re-compaction. We create sustainable and liveable neighbourhoods for Young and Old. We see the protection of the climate and digital progress with a high priority.

but We can only contribute our part to the solution. Others must do that as well. Lamenting, Defame or Expropriate helps not a single tenant. We can deal with ahead of us the task of the Century."