Government's assertion challenged by Home Builder's Federation: Websites goal not achieved, according to Federation's response
The Home Builder's Federation (HBF) has voiced criticism towards the government's estimate of net additional dwellings, claiming that the data is outdated and fails to reflect current market conditions.
According to the HBF, the data is "retrospective" and only provides a "historic snapshot," rather than an accurate representation of the present situation. This concern arises as the German government has reported a significant decline in new housing construction since 2019.
Recent data shows that in 2024, only about 1,237 new apartments were completed in the capital city, a figure not seen since 2017, excluding 2020 due to the pandemic. This reflects ongoing challenges in housing development.
However, it remains unclear exactly how many new houses were built under the Conservatives since 2019, due to the lack of the latest figures. The HBF argues that the data does not indicate whether the new homes are flats or houses, their tenure, or the type of developer responsible.
David O'Leary, Executive Director of the HBF, stated that the data does not provide a clear picture of the current industry and market. The Government, aware of the inaccuracy of the numbers, continues to publish them, citing the dataset's history dating back to the Second World War.
The HBF further argues that the net additional dwellings figure overinflates the actual number of new homes being built, casting doubt on the reliability of the data. The organisation's concerns underscore the need for more accurate and detailed data to better understand the current state of the housing market in Germany.
