Federal Building Minister Klara Geywitz wants to give tenants better protection against terminations due to arrears in view of rising electricity and heating costs. “In the case of ordinary terminations due to rent arrears, we need the possibility that the amount due can be paid by the date of departure in order to cancel the termination,” said the SPD politician picture on sunday. So far, the so-called grace period payment only applies to terminations without notice.
Geywitz also emphasized that the relief package clearly states that adjustments to energy law should prevent people from being left without electricity and gas. In addition, work should be done on social tenancy law. “I’m assuming that my colleague, Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann, is already preparing this intensively,” said Geywitz.
Break through speculation in land prices
In order to curb the sharp increase in land prices, the minister called on the municipalities not to sell their land, but to give it a leasehold. “You can’t increase soil. It’s gone. We’re breaking through speculation with land prices,” said Geywitz. In addition, the strengthening of the right of first refusal for municipalities must finally come. If communities had first access to land, they would be in a much better bargaining position.
In view of the rising prices, Geywitz also called for more emphasis on modular and serial construction. “Everyone who is building at the moment notices that it has become more expensive. In this situation, we have to think about how we can work to keep prices down,” said Geywitz. It is important here that, with a view to climate change, one cannot screw up the standards and, for example, do less insulation or do without solar roofs.