In Munich, thousands of residential units remain unused despite a severe housing shortage. According to 2022 census data, the number of such apartments has reached 22,000. This occurs while the municipality receives approximately 30,000 applications for social housing annually, of which only 3,000 can be fulfilled. In response, left-wing political groups and community initiatives organized a conference on Saturday to address the unused housing stock.
Illegal vs. Market Vacancies
The Department of Social Development, which tracks vacant spaces, explains the high figures as follows: “The actual rate of problematic vacancies is very small. In 53 percent of cases (about 11,800 units), these are apartments that are scheduled to be occupied within the next three months.” The municipality only classifies “illegal” vacancy as a violation. If a property is empty for less than three months, it is considered an “active market” vacancy rather than a breach of the city’s misappropriation statutes.
Returning Housing to the Market
For the remaining vacant apartments, the social department representative claims there are valid justifications. These properties are either undergoing renovation, in the process of being resold, or have failed to attract tenants despite the owners’ efforts. In such scenarios, the vacancy is deemed temporarily justified. The department emphasized that it monitors these cases to ensure premises are returned to the housing fund as quickly as possible.
Proposal for a Vacancy Tax
Last autumn, left-wing activists held a protest at Baaderstraße 61—a building that sits largely empty—to highlight the issue. They argue that property owners are pursuing other goals: land value appreciation without the “burden” of tenants, luxury renovations, or bypassing heritage protection rules by allowing buildings to intentionally fall into disrepair. Christian Schwarzenberger, a representative for the Left, noted: “This is why introducing a vacancy tax would be appropriate.” Similar taxes are already in place in parts of Austria, such as Tyrol and Vorarlberg. In some instances, lengthy disputes cause decades of vacancy, such as the building at Geyerstraße 17, where owners want to build higher than city regulations allow.
Fines for Illegal Vacancies
City authorities are actively working to curb the misappropriation of housing. Last autumn, fines totaling 230,000 euros were issued to four different property owners. Deputy Mayor Verena Dietl emphasized that the administration is consistently fighting against the illegal vacancy of residential spaces.
Source: Abendzeitung München
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