Caritas is demanding that the German government make it a legal requirement for rental properties to be fitted with climate‑friendly heating systems that rely on renewable energy. “We urgently need a mandate for modern heating systems in the rental sector” Caritas president Eva Welskop‑Deffaa told the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”. Only under such a rule can tenants be guaranteed “price‑stable and environmentally friendly” heating in the long run.
The organisation argues that the so‑called “Wärmewende” (heat transition) not only protects the climate but also reduces dependency on volatile international oil markets and saves consumers’ pockets. Welskop‑Deffaa cited the forthcoming discussion of the Government’s seventh Poverty and Wealth Report in the Bundestag Committee for Labour and Social Affairs. According to the report, households earning under €1,300 a month spend roughly 10 % of their total expenses on housing energy, whereas families earning over €5,000 spend less than 5 % of their budget on the same.
In addition to the technical upgrade, Caritas stresses the need for better support for low‑income households. This includes advisory services such as the “Stromspar‑Check” (energy‑saving check) and a reform of social benefits. The organisation insists that state aids like housing benefit (Wohngeld) must become more accessible to those who need them most.
