Unser Positionspapier zu Wohnen – Grüne Stadtratsfraktion Augsburg

Germany faces severe over‑crowding, with 9.6 million people living in unsuitable conditions in 2024. Augsburg mirrors this trend, experiencing high demand, long commutes, costly rents, and rising homelessness. Adequate, affordable housing is framed as a fundamental human right and essential for mental health and social cohesion.

The Greens propose a 30 % subsidised housing quota for the next 40 years, alongside a minimum 15 % green‑space share in new developments. Current data show that about 80 % of Augsburg residents live in one‑ or two‑person households, yet roughly half of the apartments have four or more rooms, indicating significant under‑utilisation of existing space.

The document is issued by Bündnis 90/Die Grünen – Stadtratsfraktion Augsburg, a municipal political group advocating progressive housing policy. It reflects the party’s broader European agenda on sustainable, socially just urban development and aligns with EU climate and social cohesion goals.

1. Improve Frameworks – Streamline bureaucratic procedures, accelerate planning, and maintain high energy‑efficiency standards to avoid cheaper, polluting construction.
2. Land Governance – Expand municipal land‑use tools such as pre‑emptive purchase rights, building obligations, and land‑gain taxes to curb speculation. Promote long‑term lease models (Erbbaurecht) and concept‑based land awards to foster innovative, affordable projects.
3. Inner‑City Densification – Prioritise infill development (“Innenentwicklung”) over green‑field expansion, using “Urbanes Gebiet” zoning to mix uses and reduce travel distances. Encourage conversion of under‑used spaces like rooftops, basements, and vacant commercial buildings.

The Greens advocate for a robust housing‑swap platform, support for partial‑unit rentals (e.g., “Nestrückbau”), and promotion of homeshare models where younger tenants assist older residents. They also suggest municipal management of vacant private rentals, offering guarantees to owners while ensuring social binding.

Proposals include a purpose‑built “Zweckentfremdungssatzung” to prevent misuse of housing, a potential vacancy tax after six months of emptiness, and stricter enforcement against rents exceeding 20 % of the local market rate. Additional measures involve a rent‑monitoring system, tenant‑support funds for deposits, and dedicated affordable units for municipal staff and apprentices.

Construction accounts for roughly 40 % of German greenhouse‑gas emissions. The Greens call for continued enforcement of Augsburg’s energy‑efficiency standards, mandatory solar installations on new builds, and greater use of low‑impact materials such as timber, hemp, and recycled components. They promote modular, prefabricated construction to reduce waste and support circular‑economy initiatives, citing examples like Hannover’s recycling house.

A proposed Kommunale Wohnzentrale would consolidate existing municipal housing offices, offering services such as:

• Advisory support for cooperative housing projects,
• A centralised housing‑swap marketplace,
• Management of homeshare and tenant‑tandem arrangements,
• Monitoring of rent‑gouging and enforcement of vacancy regulations,
• Coordination with NGOs and social‑housing providers.

If the outlined measures are implemented, the Greens anticipate:

• Increased affordable housing supply through both new builds and better utilisation of existing units,
• Reduced land‑speculation pressures, preserving urban green spaces,
• Lower average rent growth, protecting low‑ and middle‑income households,
• Significant cuts in construction‑related CO₂ emissions, supporting EU climate targets. The summary presents the Greens’ comprehensive, data‑driven approach to tackling Augsburg’s housing shortage while aligning with pan‑European sustainability objectives.