Housing shortage in Frechen: rental prices rise, 4100 households affected!

Housing shortage in Frechen: rental prices rise, 4100 households affected!

The living situation in Frechen is tense. A current study has published alarming figures on the city's housing market, which illustrate the urgency of the situation. From 1990 to 2023, rental prices rose by a considerable 45 percent. According to the results, 900 apartments are already missing by the end of 2023, while around 3,500 publicly funded apartments are required by 2040. This clearly shows that there is an urgent need for action.

Need for affordable living space

The research of the Prestel Institute to reorganize the urban land use plan shows a significant lack of small, affordable and barrier -free apartments. In addition, the city urgently needs living space for families. The study comes to the conclusion that a share of 25 to 30 percent in common good rental apartments would be necessary to stabilize the market. At the moment, however, this proportion is only 7.6 percent, which significantly limits the price -damping effect.

In order to counteract the lack of living space, the study suggests the introduction of a building land model. This model, which the city administration will present in the upcoming planning committee on October 8, could help realize the necessary apartments.

New building land model in sight

The planned building land model stipulates that at least 35 percent of private construction projects from a floor area of 450 square meters must be created as a publicly funded housing. This regulation is intended to ensure that more subsidized apartments are created and the general apartment pressure is thus relieved. A combination of floor surface and residential units is also conceivable, and these must be ready for occupancy and rented within defined deadlines. To ensure that the apartments are actually preserved as a social living space, the sale is prohibited as a condominium.

For existing building rights, however, this quota does not apply. Projects such as the Great Rhenania Quarter could be affected, while the Wolf Immobilien Group has so far not been able to make a specific statement on request.

Andreas Pöttgen, the department of the city of Frechen, comments on the new 35 percent quota and emphasizes that it could make a significant contribution to achieving the goal of 3,500 new apartments up to 2040. Nevertheless, Pöttgen is aware that this measure alone is not sufficient. "If we don't do anything, we have a huge problem," said his urgent warning.

The future steps include not only the adoption of the building land model, but also the acquisition of areas and stocks in order to further cover the need for socially supported living space. The design of the building land model will be in the city council in December. The SPD faction in particular has positioned itself in advance and demands that the rate of at least 35 percent to be determined in order to create age-appropriate apartments. "So that the citizens can grow old in their quarters," explains Hans Günter Eilenberger, the group leader of the SPD.

These developments illustrate the need to tackle the housing issue in Frechen quickly and effectively. A comprehensive strategy that takes into account several aspects seems essential to meet the current challenges on the housing market. Details for discussion and further information can be found in a recent report, loud www.ksta.de .