Caritas is demanding a legal requirement that climate‑friendly heating systems be installed in rental properties, citing the “drastically” rising energy prices. “We urgently need a mandate for modern heating solutions based on renewable energy-at least in the rental housing sector” said Caritas president Eva Welskop‑Deffaa in an interview with the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”. She argues that only such a policy can ensure that tenants can keep their heating costs stable and environmentally responsible for the long term.
Welskop‑Deffaa pointed out that the nationwide “heating transition” safeguards the climate, cuts dependence on international oil markets, and spares consumers’ wallets. She referred to the German federal government’s Seventh Report on Poverty and Wealth, which is scheduled for discussion in the Bundestag’s Committee on Labour and Social Affairs this Monday. According to the report’s data, low‑income households-those earning below €1,300 a month-spend about 10 % of their total expenditures on housing energy. In contrast, households earning over €5,000 a month spend less than 5 % on the same.
Beyond technical upgrades, Caritas is pressing for stronger support for low‑income households. This includes expanding advisory services such as the “Electricity Savings Check” and reforming social benefits to improve accessibility to state aid programs like housing allowance. The organization stresses that making these supports easier to obtain is “essential” for reducing the energy burden on vulnerable families.