After the Union and SPD reached an agreement on the main outlines of a new heating law, young members of the SPD criticized the absence of clear safeguards to protect tenants. “The fact that protection against cost shifting is not crystal clear and binding in the agreement is socially irresponsible” said Juso chairman Philipp Türmer to ntv on Thursday, referring to the draft paper presented on Tuesday. Tenants should not have to pay for landlords’ frugality.
The governing coalition wants to allow the installation of new gas and oil boilers again, but only if they burn heating oil or natural gas that contains at least ten percent alternative fuels. Experts and industry bodies note that these fuels tend to be more expensive, especially as CO₂ prices are expected to rise in the coming years.
Türmer warned that if landlords can decide on measures that will inevitably raise running costs, the next surcharge on utility bills will be politically pre‑programmed and ultimately fall on tenants. He demanded “hard levers” – a binding protection for utility costs, clear rules against shifting expenses to tenants, and a subsidy program that really reaches people. Otherwise, he said, the coalition will simply worsen the housing crisis. Rising warm rents were already threatening to displace even more residents from their neighborhoods.