Baden-Württemberg: Still no wrong occupancy tax for social housing

Green-Black does not want to make life more expensive for tenants.

Baden-Württemberg: Still no wrong occupancy tax for social housing

Green-Black does not want to make life more expensive for tenants. The misallocation tax remains abolished. Also at the request of the municipalities.

Stuttgart (dpa / lsw) - The green-black state government has initially spoken out against the introduction of an incorrect occupancy tax for social housing. Housing Minister Nicole Razavi (CDU) told the German Press Agency in Stuttgart: "At a time when the energy crisis is already putting tenant households under high pressure and when the municipalities are right to demand a review of the standards, that would be the wrong thing to do step and the wrong signal." The levy was once paid by renters of social housing whose income over time exceeds the relevant limits. It has not been collected in the southwest since 2008.

Razavi said: "The costs and benefits of this measure are not in a good relationship, and the municipalities in particular see it that way." The additional administrative effort for the cities and municipalities is very high, and the effect is also questionable from their point of view: the incorrect occupancy tax would put an additional burden on the tenants concerned. In the coalition agreement, Grün-Schwarz had agreed that they wanted to develop solutions in the area of ​​subsidized apartments on how to deal with incorrect occupancy.

Razavi said the option remains on the table in case the situation changes. "In the current situation, however, we should jointly use all our strength to create more affordable housing." From the point of view of the municipalities, this is also a top priority. Together with the municipalities, the ministry is checking the housing indexes in the state. In the cases that have so far had to be followed up, the percentage of violations is estimated to be in the single-digit percentage range.

In Hesse, the fee is levied in some cities. And in old cases in Rhineland-Palatinate. In other states this is not an issue. The CDU politician said that the municipalities also explained that the typical tenants of subsidized housing are still people with low incomes, for example Hartz IV recipients, nursing staff or people with a low pension. "The much-cited example of the 'millionaire in social housing' therefore does not correspond to reality."