The energy transition in the building sector is making progress, but the Tenants' Protection Association is calling for more support for tenants in this context. Although the German government has presented funding programmes for homeowners to modernize their heating systems in a socially responsible manner, the Tenants' Protection Association believes that the needs of tenants are not being given sufficient consideration. The replacement of gas or oil heating systems with sustainable alternatives such as heat pumps ultimately affects not only homeowners, but also millions of tenants.
Claus O. Deese, Chairman of the Tenants' Protection Association, expresses his concerns: "The subsidy is certainly important for building owners. However, it must be borne in mind that, according to the current legal situation, a large proportion of modernization costs are borne by tenants. Rents will rise considerably as a result of expected modernization rent increases".
According to the Tenant Protection Association, the expected rent increases due to modernization could lead to further displacement of low- and middle-income earners, especially in metropolitan areas. Tenants would have an influence on how the properties in which they live are modernized and heated. Claus O. Deese therefore calls for rent increases due to heating modernization to be checked to see whether owners have made full use of all funding opportunities. If not, they should have to offset possible subsidy measures when calculating the modernization rent increase.
Source: mieterschutzbund.de
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