Erfurt's old town under pressure: millions are missing for new apartments!

Erfurt's old town under pressure: millions are missing for new apartments!

In the beautiful old town of Erfurt, a development is spilling over the roofs that is causing concern for many: more and more living space is being converted into holiday apartments. Lars Bredemeier, the councilor for urban development, emphasizes that between 3,800 and 6,900 new apartments will be needed in the next 15 years. This number clearly shows how high the pressure is on the housing market while the number of holiday apartments continues to increase. The Thüringen24 reports that this development could jeopardize the renovation work, which has made valuable progress in recent years.

With the “Extended Old Town” framework plan, the city is pursuing the ambitious goal of maintaining and further developing living space and maintaining the quality of living. But the increasing use of apartments as holiday accommodation directly contradicts these goals. Particularly problematic are the unauthorized holiday apartments, which, according to Bredemeier, are difficult to record. There are currently 60 proceedings underway, affecting around 200 of these accommodations. Further tests are already planned to deal with this problem.

Controls and approvals in focus

The city administration has carried out its own research into unauthorized holiday apartments, supported by information from the population. Landlords who do not have permits will be given the opportunity to be heard; Subsequent approval can then be granted if there are no legal obstacles. However, the prerequisite remains that the apartments may no longer be used as holiday accommodation if all conditions are not met.

One point that cannot be neglected in this discussion is the role of tourism. Christian Fothe from Erfurt Tourismus und Marketing GmbH emphasizes the importance of a lively city center as part of the city's attractiveness. However, too many holiday apartments could jeopardize the acceptance of tourism among the population. Erfurt is therefore striving for a balance between living space and tourist offerings - a challenge that is not easy to overcome given the high demand for housing.

The nationwide housing shortage

No matter where you look, the housing shortage is not just a local problem. A current study shows that there is a shortage of around 550,000 apartments nationwide. The reasons are complex: high immigration numbers, a persistently low level of new construction and rising rents in large cities are just some of the problems. It will be particularly noticeable in Erfurt, as by 2023 almost 52% of people in Germany will be renting, which will further increase the pressure on rental prices. These numbers come from the Federal Agency for Civic Education.

In order to improve the situation, binding legal foundations are necessary, especially regarding the misuse of living space. Unfortunately, there is still a lack of solid framework conditions here in Thuringia, which makes the city administration even more responsible for ensuring order. If Erfurt wants to preserve its living space for future generations, action must be taken now - so that the old town remains a lively place for locals and tourists.