Federal Minister of Construction, Verena Hubertz (SPD), recently addressed the disappointing figures regarding completed housing units, balancing concern over the current situation with a notable sense of optimism. Speaking to the “Rheinische Post” (Saturday), Hubertz stated that the poor figures for 2025 are a consequence of previous years of economic crises. She emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that the approximately 206,000 housing units completed last year were insufficient, which she described as “the honest message to everyone looking for a home today”.
However, the minister stressed that her focus is on the future, not the past. She pointed out that the building permit figures for 2025 and the first quarter of 2026 are showing a clear upward trend. According to Hubertz, the current housing policy-which centers on driving investment, accelerating processes, and reducing construction costs-is already yielding results.
She added that the “construction turbo” initiated half a year ago is already being applied in many municipalities. The government is investing record funds into social housing, and they plan to soon present an upgrade to the Building Code that will significantly further accelerate planning and approval processes.
Furthermore, Hubertz detailed efforts being made in two key areas: promoting the E building type for low-cost construction and introducing a dual-program support system. To ensure that approved construction projects quickly turn into finished homes, the minister intends to extend the EH55-Plus support program beyond June 30, 2026. Hubertz concluded that these measures collectively aim to bring the completion figures back up, even amid continued economic difficulties.
