Vacancies plague rural regions: demolition as a last resort?

Vacancies plague rural regions: demolition as a last resort?

In Germany, numerous apartments are empty, especially in rural regions. This not only results in financial loss for owners, but also creates an increasingly worrying situation in the housing market. Chairman Müller commented on this in a recent interview with MDR and highlighted the difficulty caused by the high vacancy rate in rural districts. In regions such as Zwickau, Görlitz and the Erzgebirgskreis, between 18 and 20 percent of association-owned apartments are currently unused and thus contribute to the problem, which is exacerbated by demographic changes and economic migration, as the German Institute for Urban Studies states.

The vacant apartments pose a challenge that is not just limited to the financial losses. The Difu emphasizes that the vacancy rate is particularly pronounced in structurally weak, rural areas and that a drastically different reality prevails in the prosperous urban regions. A targeted approach to vacancies is therefore essential for future development in these regions.

Causes and strategies

A central factor for the vacancy rate is the insufficient adaptation of the housing stock to the current needs of the population. There is an urgent need for action, not only to correct the existing problems, but also to meet future challenges. According to Difu, it is crucial to actively involve various actors such as municipalities, the housing industry, initiatives and owners in the process in order to convert empty buildings into usable living space.

Difu points out the need to develop specific strategies for structurally weak and rural areas and states that the data-driven approach alone is not enough. Rather, it is important to identify the specific need for action and actively implement measures. To this end, the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Construction has launched an online platform for “activating vacant apartments”. This should act as a knowledge repository and provide practical tools and success stories.

Practical transfer and knowledge transfer

The aim of the platform is to support municipalities and housing associations in dealing with vacancies. These are nationwide funded measures that include both online and face-to-face events. In addition, an extensive national and international literature analysis will be carried out in order to effectively pool and pass on knowledge about vacancy management and how to deal with unused living space.

Overall, it is clear that the high vacancy rate in rural regions is a complex problem that requires active action and comprehensive knowledge in order to develop sustainable solutions. Difu and the actors mentioned are working together to activate and convert empty apartments in order to proactively address both the social and economic challenges in structurally weak areas.