Fewer requirements, more flexibility

Q&A lunch with ZIA boss Aygül Özkan

Text: Martina Ulita

She was the first woman with a migrant background and Muslim faith to become a member of a state government in Germany. From 2010 to 2013, Aygül Özkan, CDU, was Minister for Social Affairs, Women, Family, Health and Integration in Lower Saxony. Since January 2024, she has been Managing Director of the German Property Federation (ZIA), the umbrella organization of the real estate industry. At the networking format for female managers at the VBKI - the Q&A lunch - the lawyer answered questions from around 25 participants in the China Club. VBKI Executive Committee member Dr. Sigrid Nikutta moderated the event.

Aygül Özkan drew a current picture of the real estate sector in Germany. Whether at home, in factories, in logistics hubs, in the office, when shopping or in hotels - real estate plays a central role in our lives (together), said the head of the ZIA. Statistically, we spend around 22 hours a day within four walls. This is also reflected in its economic importance: the real estate sector accounts for 20 percent of Germany's gross value added.

According to the head of the association, 90 percent of society's demand for real estate is already covered today. However, the question is: how can we manage to adapt the existing stock to our current requirements? Referring to regulations in our neighboring countries, Aygül Özkan pleaded for a streamlining of building law. Fewer requirements, more flexibility - the example of the Netherlands illustrates how supply and demand can come together on the real estate market even under difficult macroeconomic conditions. There are also lessons to be learned from Poland - for example with regard to tax incentives for existing properties that are being renovated and modernized.  

How do we build the urgently needed additional apartments - for trainees and students, for example? How do we create a good mix with commerce? For the speaker, an important part of the solution lies in reducing bureaucracy - by only regulating what absolutely needs to be regulated. And by building on what already exists - with flexibility for the specific needs and circumstances on site.