The Baden-Württemberg Housing Minister Nicole Razavi (CDU) sees too many and too strict building regulations as a reason why housing construction is only progressing slowly. “For many investors, banks or even the simple builder, the jungle of regulations does not make building easier, it also makes it more expensive. The federal government and the federal states must tackle the issue together, ”Razavi told the FAZ. She will chair the conference of building ministers next year. The German Association of Towns and Municipalities estimates that there are around 20,000 building-related regulations in Germany, of which 4,000 are DIN standards that have to be observed depending on the project.

Razavi said the number of regulations has grown dramatically over the years.

“You have to look carefully at what is necessary and helpful.” The President of the Central Association of the Housing Industry GdW, Axel Gedaschko, emphasized on request that a certain amount of building regulations is of course important and necessary.

"But: The requirements and standards for residential buildings have long since exceeded an acceptable level and have ensured that construction costs have risen enormously."

State funding programs

The CDU politician sees another problem: When it comes to standard, it should also be considered whether one always needs the luxury version. The politician spoke out in favor of the public sector spending more money to promote housing construction. “We have to cushion the increases in building costs through the subsidy programs. This means that the federal and state governments will certainly have to increase their funding programs further in the coming years. In Baden-Württemberg we want to increase the annual subsidy per square meter in social housing. ”It is to increase from 3500 to 4000 euros per square meter.

The construction ministers and the housing industry are currently particularly concerned about the planned changes in financial support. “The planned expiry of the funding for Energiehaus 55 by the end of January 2022 sends the wrong signal.” This regulation was still decided by the old federal government. Razavi called on the traffic light coalition to quickly clarify this. “This leads to huge short-term funding gaps. We definitely need a longer transition period. Preferably by the end of 2024. "

The cancellation of the program will slow down the urgently needed construction of affordable housing. “If funds are now only allocated according to the Efficiency House 40 standard, this will also drive up the costs for new builds or renovations. Thicker insulation layers on the outer wall or ventilation layers are necessary. That also leads to a higher burden on the tenants. ”And GdW President Gedaschko said that climate protection and social goals should be thought together. “That is why the following applies to living: what is required must be promoted. Politicians must support the increased climate targets with sufficient funding in order to ensure social peace. "

Razavi defended the decision of the building ministers' conference in November to abandon "the one-sided focus on building insulation".

“We are not against insulation.

But the instrument has reached its limits.

And putting more and more insulation on the facade is driving the already rising costs further up.

That is why we have to broaden our perspective. ”It is important to focus more on the total greenhouse gas emissions of a building, a settlement or a neighborhood.

That means: Photovoltaics, solar thermal energy or waste heat could also be included in the assessment.

The industrial associations concerned, which represent the interests of insulation material manufacturers through to window and door manufacturers, rejected the request.