Gebek: “Darmstadt needs housing, not a culture of mistrust”
Darmstadt. vacancy ordinance announced by the city . "Instead of finally creating the conditions for more construction in Darmstadt, the city is relying on control and mistrust," criticizes Viola Gebek , who is running alongside Leif Blum as the top candidate for the FDP Darmstadt in the local elections. "This ordinance doesn't solve a single housing problem—it only creates additional bureaucracy."
According to the Liberals, the vacancy law planned by the state government's conservative-red coalition a further step toward patronizing and controlling property owners . Instead of encouraging personal responsibility, the CDU, SPD, and Greens on controls, permit requirements, and high fines of up to €500,000 – thus hitting those who need to renovate, modernize, or resolve inheritance issues.
“The Vacancy Act is a massive, bureaucratic and constitutionally questionable interference with property rights,” Gebek continued.
FDP calls for more building permits instead of controls
The FDP also warns against overloading the city administration: "Instead of tying up staff in monitoring and filing, the city should speed up building permits, digitalize procedures, and support those wishing to build," Gebek demands.
In addition, the state of Hesse itself should set a good example – for example with the state properties in Marienburgstrasse in Eberstadt, which have been vacant for years .
The FDP believes the causes of the housing shortage in Darmstadt are not speculative vacancies, but rather the high demand in the Rhine-Main area coupled with a limited supply of building land. Due to excessive building regulations and rising energy prices, larger new construction projects are often only viable in subsidized housing projects – such as the Lincolnsiedlung or the Ludwigshöhviertel .
“Anyone who seriously wants to create affordable housing must make housing construction easier – not place owners under general suspicion,” Gebek concluded.
(DARMSTADT – REd/FDP)
