Insights
What is going wrong in property right now
Every week the cases, rulings and schemes that buyers, tenants and landlords should know about. Each item with date, source and link.
Items from week 42/2026
2026-10-18 · Authority · DE · Source: FAZ, retrieved on 2026-10-19
Berlin: talks paper plans socialisation from 10,000 flats upward
The Left, Greens and SPD presented an exploratory paper on Saturday providing for socialisation of private portfolios above 10,000 flats. According to the analysis about 150,000 flats would be covered, including Vonovia's Berlin portfolio of nearly 140,000 flats at the end of 2025. Compensation is to be capped at 16 billion euros, with a law planned by mid 2028.
2026-10-16 · Market · DE · Source: Spiegel, retrieved on 2026-10-19
Commerzbank financed home of an incoming supervisory board member
According to research by SPIEGEL, Commerzbank granted Harald Christ a home loan. At that time it was already known that he would join the bank's supervisory board. The report raises the question of whether he received more favourable terms.
2026-10-15 · Authority · AT · Source: Der Standard, retrieved on 2026-10-19
Vienna: Greens criticise tenement building in Paulusgasse
On Thursday the Vienna Greens publicised the case of a tenement building in Paulusgasse in the third district. In their view it is a so-called speculation house. According to the party, there has been no gas, heating or hot water since last year, and the high-voltage power supply was switched off.
2026-10-15 · Fraud · AT · Source: Der Standard, retrieved on 2026-10-19
Vienna: rental ad scam using someone else's Airbnb flat
A family in Vienna found its own flat advertised for rent in a listing it had never placed. The flat is up for sale and rented out on Airbnb by the day until then. According to the report, unknown persons collected deposits from interested parties.
2026-10-14 · Fraud · ES · Source: El Mundo, retrieved on 2026-10-19
Malaga: flat sale arranged without the owner's consent
According to El Mundo, a flat owner in Málaga received a notarial summons to complete the sale of his only home in late October. He states that he never signed anything and received no payment. The land registry extract lists two further persons holding purchase options of 35 and 65 percent.
2026-10-12 · Market · ES · Source: La Vanguardia, retrieved on 2026-10-12
Spain: homes in flood zones about 8 percent cheaper since the dana
A study by a UPF chair professor examines the price effect of the October 2024 dana on Spain's housing market. Square metre prices in high flood risk areas fell by around 8 percent on average compared with safe locations. Before the event such homes cost 7 to 10 percent more than properties without that exposure.
Items from week 41/2026
2026-10-06 · Market · AT · Source: Der Standard, retrieved on 2026-10-12
Buwog takes over Sueba project in Vienna Floridsdorf
After the insolvency of the project company of developer Süba, the scheme in Pilzgasse in Vienna Floridsdorf was awarded in a bidding process. Buwog secured the project. According to the report the site is still vacant land.
2026-10-05 · Authority · DE · Source: FAZ, retrieved on 2026-10-05
Frankfurt seeks wider fines for excessive rents
The city of Frankfurt is calling for a new legal basis against excessive rents. Fines are currently possible only if a landlord exploits a tenant's predicament. Planning head Marcus Gwechenberger wants penalties whenever housing supply is too low; the German Jurists Forum backs a legal change.
2026-10-05 · Authority · ES · Source: El Mundo, retrieved on 2026-10-05
Sareb awards housing management contract to Blackstone unit Aliseda
According to El Mundo, Spain's state-controlled Sareb has signed a contract with Aliseda, Blackstone's housing manager in Spain. The contract is worth 52.45 million euros and runs until December 2028, extendable to 2030. Aliseda is to sell properties or prepare them for the state company Casa 47.
Items from week 40/2026
2026-10-01 · Authority · NL · Source: NOS, retrieved on 2026-10-05
Netherlands: minister plans official register for estate agents
The minister announced state supervision of the entire estate agency sector. Plans include a professional register, statutory conduct rules and a complaints desk. Since August more than 900 people filed complaints with Vereniging Eigen Huis, according to the report.
2026-10-01 · Authority · ES · Source: La Vanguardia, retrieved on 2026-10-05
Spain: property sector questions legality of housing decrees
Property owner groups, companies and lawyers criticise the housing decrees adopted by the coalition government. The owners association Asval claims they breach legal certainty, property rights and the ban on retroactive rules. Congress is due to vote on confirming the decrees on Friday.
2026-09-28 · Market · ES · Source: tagesschau, retrieved on 2026-09-28
Madrid: protest camp over high rents and housing shortage
According to the report, 25,000 people demonstrated in Madrid against the housing crisis, and a protest camp then formed on Puerta del Sol. The trigger was the eviction of an 87-year-old pensioner whose rent had been raised from 440 to 1,650 euros. The portal idealista.com puts Madrid rents above 23 euros per square metre, about 60 percent more than five years ago.
Items from week 39/2026
2026-09-23 · Authority · AT · Source: Der Standard, retrieved on 2026-09-28
Vienna: landlord association criticises short-term rental rules
The City of Vienna is tightening rules for short-term rentals via platforms such as Airbnb and Booking. Mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) announced a registration requirement from early 2027. An association accuses the city of applying a law that has not yet been passed.
2026-09-22 · Market · CH · Source: Il Sole 24 Ore, retrieved on 2026-09-28
UBS index 2026: bubble risk highest in Zurich and Tokyo
The UBS Global Real Estate Bubble Index 2026 places Zurich at the highest bubble risk, followed by Tokyo. The study reviews residential prices in 23 large cities. Milan now falls into the moderate risk group, with prices up 9 percent year on year.
Items from week 38/2026
2026-09-19 · Authority · AT · Source: Der Standard, retrieved on 2026-09-21
Vienna: registration required for short-term rentals from 2027
From 2027, Vienna will require registration for renting flats to tourists. Short-term letting via platforms such as Airbnb must be reported to the authority in advance. Converting flats into accommodation establishments will also be restricted; in 2025 there were 305 related applications.
Items from week 37/2026
2026-09-13 · Fraud · FR · Source: franceinfo, retrieved on 2026-09-21
France: rise in fake rental listings at start of academic year
A franceinfo report describes a rise in fake rental adverts as the university year begins. A student in Toulouse was asked for a 370 euro deposit and checked the address first. In another case, documents sent to a supposed landlord were used to obtain cards and loans totalling 10,000 euros.
2026-09-12 · Authority · DE · Source: tagesschau, retrieved on 2026-09-14
Germany: fines planned for breaches of the rent cap
Federal Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig has called for tougher penalties for breaches of the German rent cap. At present landlords only have to repay the excess amount. An expert group is examining fines and a reform of the rules on rent profiteering.
2026-09-09 · Construction · AT · Source: Der Standard, retrieved on 2026-09-14
Alpenland takes over Rossmarkthoefe project in St. Poelten
The non-profit developer Alpenland is taking over the Rossmarkthöfe project in central St. Pölten, which has existed since 2020. Plans include flats, shops, a hotel and offices. Signa Holding previously held the site and sold it to Süba AG in autumn 2022; both later became insolvent.
2026-09-09 · Market · DE · Source: FAZ, retrieved on 2026-09-14
Weak property business in Germany: companies cut jobs
According to a commentary in the FAZ, business conditions in the German property sector are mixed. Union Investment plans to cut jobs in its real estate division over the next six years. Helaba reports a marked drop in profit and is reducing staff at its project developer OFB.
Items from week 36/2026
2026-09-04 · Authority · EU · Source: Die Presse, retrieved on 2026-09-07
EU draft law proposes tighter rules for short-term rentals
According to a draft law seen by Reuters, the EU plans stricter rules for short-term landlords such as Airbnb. Commission Vice-President Teresa Ribera is expected to present the Affordable Housing Act on 9 September. The draft suggests caps or grandfathering rules rather than a full ban.
2026-09-04 · Fraud · AT · Source: Die Presse, retrieved on 2026-09-07
Vienna: charges over property transfer tax in 2015 deal
Austria's economic crimes prosecutor has charged a Viennese property entrepreneur and an employee with tax evasion. In a 2015 deal on five residential properties a price of 7.27 million euros was declared, while 25 million had allegedly been agreed earlier. The stated shortfall is 620,000 euros; the presumption of innocence applies.
2026-09-02 · Market · DE · Source: FAZ, retrieved on 2026-09-07
Sylt: vacancies and insolvencies on the property market
According to the FAZ, houses and flats on the German island of Sylt were largely built on credit amid strong demand. Hundreds of buildings now stand empty and companies have become insolvent. Some prospective buyers see an opportunity.
Items from week 35/2026
2026-08-27 · Ruling · AT · Source: Der Standard, retrieved on 2026-10-12
Austrian Supreme Court: private reasons do not end broker contract
An owner sought to end a brokerage mandate for private reasons. The Austrian Supreme Court held that purely private interests are not an important reason for early termination. The ruling is registered as 1 Ob 69/26t of 27 August 2026.
Items from week 19/2026
2026-05-06 · Ruling · DE · Source: FAZ, retrieved on 2026-09-28
Krefeld court: decorative repairs clause in tenancy is valid
The Krefeld regional court held valid a clause requiring tenants to paint interior doors and the windows and exterior doors from inside. The local court had earlier awarded the landlords 5000 euros for painting work. Two Hamburg courts had struck down identically worded clauses as unclear.
Items from week 07/2026
2026-02-10 · Ruling · DE · Source: FAZ, retrieved on 2026-10-05
Munich court: outdoor lamps must stay off at night
At a narrow driveway in Munich, three outdoor lamps shone into the neighbouring house windows at night. The Munich local court ruled in favour of the neighbours. The lighting must stay switched off between 10 pm and 6 am (file number 173 C 9993/25).
As of: 2026-10-19