Problematic Housing Estates in Germany – How Municipalities Try to Deal with Them

摘要

Problematic housing estates are generally referred to as"neglected" or "scrap properties" depending on the weighting oftheir specific problem situation (BMUB 2014). Generally, aproblem property can be described as a property that has beenneglected and/or not used properly, if it has a negative impact onits surroundings and urban environment. Interventions by thepublic authorities are necessary if there is a threat to public safetyand order. Beyond that, public action is possible also when theproperty contradicts any applicable regulations on handling,maintenance, use and management with regard to regulatory laws,housing policies or shows an intense negative image impact onthe real estate industry at place. Further, municipalities areallowed to act in case that a property does not correspond withthe urban development objectives or housing policy objectives.Because of these many possibilities, the description of“problematic properties” is not uniform, especially due to theirdifferent spatial and structural situations and the economic, urbandevelopment and regulatory criteria responding to them.