The German Green Party is escalating pressure on the federal government to address the escalating crisis of “derelict properties” a phenomenon impacting tenants and eroding public trust. Katharina Dröge, parliamentary group chair, voiced sharp criticism in an interview with the Rheinische Post, highlighting the devastating impact on renters forced to endure substandard living conditions, including mold, broken heating systems and infestations.
Dröge condemned the prevailing model of prioritizing profit maximization while shrugging off responsibility, arguing that the current situation is untenable. She called for decisive government action to rectify the deteriorating state of these properties and ensure decent living standards for all citizens. The Greens maintain that the government’s inaction not only perpetuates exploitation but also undermines faith in local authorities and the state’s ability to solve pressing social issues.
Sylvia Rietenberg, a Green Party politician and member of the Housing Committee, warned that these neglected properties, often allowed to languish for years, are actively corrosive to public confidence. “They’re poisoning trust in the problem-solving capabilities of municipalities and the state as a whole” Rietenberg stated, further suggesting the situation poses a threat to democratic stability.
The party is advocating for a significant expansion of urban planning regulations and a strengthening of preemptive and first refusal rights for municipalities. Currently, these rights, intended to allow local authorities to acquire properties for redevelopment, are rarely applicable and often hampered by complex legal risks and inflated speculative prices. Rietenberg emphasized the urgent need to transform these rights into a genuinely effective tool for municipal planning and to ensure communities are not priced out of improving their own neighborhoods. The lack of robust enforcement and adequate financial support for municipalities in utilizing these tools remains a significant obstacle, critics argue, highlighting a systemic failure to prioritize the wellbeing of citizens over the interests of property speculators.