Munich social services department rejects vacancy levy and says current rules work better against empty homes

Munich's Social Services Department has said a levy on empty homes would not solve the problem of vacant flats and houses in the city. Responding to press coverage of the issue, it said its existing powers under the bylaw on the misuse of residential space are more effective against unjustified vacancies.

The department said anonymised electricity meter data that cannot be traced back to individuals would add little to its proceedings. To tackle empty homes it needs data on individual cases, which it has received since the new bylaw came into force on 1 August 2026. Since then, energy and water suppliers have been obliged to provide the department with consumption data in individual cases, making it easier to uncover vacant properties.

According to the department, anonymised meter data could only give a rough citywide picture of how many homes are empty and roughly where they are. The city's Statistical Office is currently examining the legal and methodological options for setting up statistical monitoring of vacancies, similar to that run by statistics offices in other cities. However, the detailed data that would be needed to check individual cases cannot be passed on under data protection law.

The department stressed that its aim is to end vacancies, not to create new charges, and that no housing may stand empty without good reason. It said a levy would include exemptions similar to those in the bylaw, and that where a property is legally empty, for example while heirs are being traced, during insolvency proceedings or ahead of planned renovation work, a levy would certainly not be legally enforceable.

At present, empty homes are brought back into use by threatening penalty payments to end the vacancy, which become due and are collected if the property remains empty. Fines are also imposed for the period a home stands empty, as this counts as an administrative offence. The department said these measures are more effective than the proposed levy.