Munich
“For me, it’s a fundamental right”: Pensioner rents apartments for nine euros per square meter
The 83-year-old Gisela Aeckerlein from Munich belongs to a very rare species
© Facebook / stern TV / screenshot
A landlady from Germany’s most expensive city for tenants only charges nine euros per square meter. And that in Munich’s Glockenbachviertel. In an interview, she explains her motives.
The 83-year-old Gisela Aeckerlein, CSU member and property owner, belongs to a very rare species. Namely to those who do not dare to raise the rental prices of the apartments they rent to the maximum. Despite the average rent in Munich of around EUR 19, Aeckerlein charges only EUR 9 per square meter for her apartments, which is less than half of what is possible.
Housing as a fundamental right
In an interview with stern TV, she explains her motives: “For me, housing is a fundamental right.” She continues: “Living and working enables everyone to shape their own lives. But if one of the two fails, then that’s no longer possible.” For them, a good household and social rents are more important than their own profit.
One of the tenants, pensioner Rita Kirnes, who has been living in one of the apartments for over ten years, summarized on Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR) why this living situation is so unique and important for her: “I just feel comfortable in the apartment . The house community just fits together well and you help each other. It is very important that you understand each other. I have trees in front of the window, there are birds there.” The reactions to Aeckerlein’s approach are also positive on Facebook, where the star TV report was posted: “Other landlords could cut a very thick slice from the old ladies,” commented user Stephanie Meußer, for example.
Munich landlady complains about inheritance tax
However, according to BR, it is uncertain how long she can stay there. Rita Kirnes’ landlady Gisela Aeckerlein lives across the street and is the third generation to own the house. But how the house will continue after the death of the current landlady is extremely uncertain. At stern TV she reports that the entire house is now worth 5.5 million euros. And that drives up the inheritance tax, which the heirs of Aeckerlein will probably not be able to afford.
The 83-year-old suggested reducing the inheritance tax – in this specific case around 800,000 euros would be due – for landlords and thus being able to guarantee cheap rents. However, it is doubtful that this wish will be heard in politics, because as the BR already quoted in 2020 from a response from the Federal Ministry of Finance, the law currently already has “a reduced valuation of 90 percent of the property value if the inherited property is rented out for residential purposes will.”
However, this reduction in value would still be far beyond what the heirs can bear in this case, which is why this price oasis for tenants in Munich will probably disappear in the foreseeable future.