In a press conference on Friday morning, the largest opposition party argued they had measures in mind which would be relatively easy to implement in order to tackle the housing issue. To date, however, these measures have been rejected in the Chamber, with 31 votes to 29.
Marc Lies, the vice-president of the housing commission, stated housing should become politicians’ first priority, as it is for citizens.
Co-president of the party, Elisabeth Margue, said there needs to be a moratorium on the amendments to the rental law. The CSV also proposed the creation of a framework for new forms of housing such as co-rentals and housing project purchases from private promoters. The private sector should also integrate better, as the public sector cannot build enough on its own, Margue believes.
The party also emphasised that citizens need help to afford housing, potentially through tax relief, according to MP and co-president Gilles Roth. The CSV proposed raising VAT tax credits for first homes to €100,000, as well as applying the reduced VAT rate of 3% for the construction of rental housing over a period of three years. Tax credits for registration and transcription fees (known as the “bëllegen Akt”) should increase from €20,000 to €50,000, and the upper limits for debt interest on properties should be doubled, Roth argued.
The CSV went on to criticise the Nature Conservation Act, claiming it lengthens construction procedures. Co-president of the party’s parliamentary faction, Martine Hansen, said “every piece of shrubbery is considered a biotope, which later adds expense.” The party said the nature conservation law needs to apply common sense, which they hope will be enshrined in future amendments.
The opposition party also criticised the policies of the current coalition government, accusing the DP of misunderstanding the population’s concerns over housing problems. In 2014, the Prime Minister and then Minister of Housing, Maggy Nagel, promised to rush through 10,000 new homes; however, 9 years later, only 3,000 affordable housing units have been built, said Lies.
MP and party co-president Claude Wiseler drew attention to the “dramatic” housing situation, which he said had deteriorated over the past decade. Demand remains high while the properties on offer are few and far between, he said, while prices have jumped up by over 100%. In the last nine months, 23% fewer building permits have been issued. The Federation of Artisans estimated that 40% fewer housing units will appear on the market over the coming 12 months, Wiseler concluded.
