habiTAT die Idee

Summary

The video introduces Habitat, an initiative adapting Germany's Mietshäuser Syndikat model to Austria. This model enables collective home ownership through a legal structure where a non-profit association and a housing cooperative jointly manage properties, preventing personal profit from sales. Habitat promotes self-managed, affordable housing and supports social initiatives by removing speculative pressures from the housing market. Residents gain equal participation regardless of social or financial status, fostering solidarity and reducing inequality. Funding is secured through banks, friends, and a solidarity fund that supports new projects. The approach combines financial support, professional guidance, and public outreach to create sustainable, community-driven housing.

Takeaways

• 🏠 Habitat aims to adapt the German 'Mietshäusersyndikat' model to the Austrian legal system to support self-managed housing projects.
• 🇩🇪 The Mietshäusersyndikat in Germany is a non-commercial, cooperative organization that helps acquire and manage houses collectively.
• 👥 As of 2014, the Mietshäusersyndikat was involved in 90 house projects in Germany, housing around 2000 residents.
• 📜 The core legal structure involves transferring property ownership to a legal entity (house GmbH) shared between the syndicate and the house association.
• ⚖️ Both the Mietshäusersyndikat and the house association have veto rights to prevent personal profit from property sales or misuse.
• 🔑 By removing property from private ownership and granting usage rights to house groups, self-determined living and cooperative economics are enabled.
• 💶 Affordable housing is created and speculation is countered through this model, ensuring housing as a basic need rather than a profit source.
• 🤝 Social equality is emphasized: all residents, regardless of social status or capital, have equal participation and decision-making rights.
• 🏦 House initiatives borrow money from supportive networks and banks, with solidarity contributions helping finance new projects.
• 🌱 The system encourages the creation of new self-organized housing projects through a solidarity fund and shared financial responsibilities.
• 📣 Professional guidance, public outreach, and support structures are key components to successfully establish and maintain these housing projects in Austria.

Q & A

What is Habitat and what is its main goal?

Habitat is an initiative that aims to transfer the structures of the German Mietshäuser Syndikat into the Austrian legal framework. Its main goal is to create self-managed, affordable housing and spaces for initiatives by removing real estate from private ownership and placing it under communal control.

What is the Mietshäuser Syndikat and how does it function in Germany?

The Mietshäuser Syndikat is a non-commercial, organized cooperative in Germany that acquires houses collectively. These houses are managed in communal ownership to ensure long-term affordable housing and space for community projects. The syndicate provides structural support, professional advice, and solidarity financing.

How are the ownership structures of these projects organized?

The ownership is split between a Hausbesitz GmbH (house ownership company) and a Hausverein (house association). The GmbH holds 49% and has veto rights over sales and changes in the statutes. The Hausverein manages the house and has decision-making power on all internal matters, while also holding veto rights, ensuring no personal profit can be made from the property.

What is the significance of transferring property out of private ownership?

Transferring property out of private ownership creates 'usage ownership,' allowing self-determined living and cooperative economic activities. It prevents individuals from profiting from essential housing needs, contributing to affordable housing and counteracting speculation.

How does Habitat ensure equal participation in house projects?

Habitat ensures that all participants, regardless of social status or capital, have equal rights, participation, and decision-making power in the house project. This structure aims to balance social inequalities without introducing hierarchical control through ownership.

How is financing handled for these house projects?

House project initiatives borrow the necessary funds from banks, friends, and supporters. Additionally, they contribute a solidarity fee of 10 cents per square meter to a solidarity fund, which can increase up to 85% of rental income for loan repayment, supporting both the financing of new projects and solidarity between projects.

What role does solidarity play in Habitat's model?

Solidarity is central. It allows funding and support for new self-managed house projects, ensures shared responsibilities, and promotes mutual aid between projects. Solidarity contributions help initiate new projects and sustain communal management structures.

What professional support is provided to new initiatives?

New initiatives receive professional advice, guidance, and public relations support from the syndicate network. This support helps ensure the successful implementation of projects, from legal structure to community management.

How many people have benefited from the Mietshäuser Syndikat in Germany?

The Mietshäuser Syndikat has been active for over 20 years in Germany and has enabled around 2000 people to live in self-determined, cooperative housing structures across approximately 90 house projects.

What is the current status of Habitat in Austria?

Habitat has been working since 2013 to implement self-managed and solidarity-based housing projects in Austria. The initiative is close to realizing its goal and is seeking supporters to help liberate and occupy as many houses as possible.