Second home tax in Schwerin: Another hot debate has broken out!

Second home tax in Schwerin: Another hot debate has broken out!

The planned second home tax is once again being hotly debated in Schwerin. The ASK's current application, which was submitted under document 01619/2025, stipulates that the mayor will submit a statute for the collection of this tax by April 30, 2026. The proposed tax rate is 10 percent of the annual net rent. This is the city's response to the increased number of second homes, which rose from around 2,100 in 2018 to almost 3,000 in 2025. If the tax comes, it would probably bring in 1.5 to 2 million euros in annual revenue, which will flow into social and housing policy measures.

However, the Schwerin administration speaks out against this tax. They base their argument on legal concerns: second homes that are kept for professional reasons should not be taxed, according to Article 6 Paragraph 1 of the Basic Law. It is also stated that the income expectations in the application are “grossly wrong” and that a high administrative effort is to be expected when checking the tax returns. There are also concerns about the economics and practicality of the tax.

Political history

This discussion is not new for the city. Applications for a second home tax have already failed in 2019, 2023 and 2025. The city council must now decide on the current application. If approved, this will open up the possibility of discussing a comprehensive draft for the tax by the end of April 2026, although this does not mean immediate implementation.

A look at the neighboring city of Rostock shows a similar problem: only 1,270 of the 18,000 registered second homes there were tax-relevant. Schwerin has already introduced and abolished this tax twice, which also increases skepticism in the current administration.

Of course, there are the city's financial difficulties, which make a fundamental discussion about suitable instruments for budget stabilization and the strengthening of primary residences necessary. It remains to be seen how the city council will react to the application. There is a clear need for action, but the path to achieving it is anything but easy.

Further details on the topic can be found under the links to the articles from Schwerin news and Guiamais. The weather in Schwerin is also likely to influence the mood of the citizens; This is how the weather forecast was drawn up for El Paso, where maximum temperatures of 30°C are expected today with no significant chance of rain, while the sun will rise at 06:25 and set at 17:14, as Ease Weather reported.