Construction costs are currently skyrocketing

Vacancy also costs money, and more than most people think (opportunity costs). In this respect, a penalty is actually not necessary. On the other hand, private small landlords have a difficult political position. Therefore, one should not be surprised if some let their parental home remain vacant for a while instead of renting it out. And fundamentally, of course, everyone has the right to set any price they want, even if the grandparents' house is a wreck.

Well, as long as the hut doesn't collapse, it's okay. Water and electricity are deregistered, etc., which doesn't even cost that much. We also paid for that for a long time. Renting out often doesn't work. Who wants to live in a house with a coal stove or even an oil stove with a kettle or a night storage heater, plus a pink bathroom garnished with the touch of the post-war era? In some regions, there are few tenants. When I think about what was offered to me 20 years ago in Augsburg, that would be luxury. Of course, everyone has the right, but then the buildings simply remain standing and decay. As long as no one is endangered, it doesn't matter if trees grow in the gutter. There is no pressure, and the "fools" from the metropolitan areas have slowly also realized that the slow sellers are not bargains despite the low price.

And what do you think the municipality should do? Oblige owners to renovate? Buy plots, demolish, and sell as building land?

Is there also... yes, in case the grandchildren want to build someday, we keep the plots...
On the other hand, these are usually areas from the 1990s and earlier with the corresponding development plan from that time... You have to like that, of course...

In recent years, however, there has only been building obligation (completely right that way)

There are plenty here. Unfortunately. Here you can build your city villa with gray window frames in areas from the 90s. The municipality is very lenient, the main thing is that a family stays or comes.
Lessons have been learned from the mistakes. All plots in the development area go to the municipality and are then sold with building obligation. It just takes years until the municipality has all the plots.

And what do you think the municipality should do? Oblige owners to renovate? Buy properties, demolish them, and sell as building land?

The properties would have to be transferred to the municipality at a realistic value, demolished, and sold as building land. This will likely lead to legal disputes and rising demolition costs. Properties are even being offered, but prices more fitting for Nürnberg.

What is suitable for renovation has been quite well taken up with funding. In the case of demolitions with outbuildings, the funding is too low, even if the property does not have to be purchased. The consultation by an architectural firm, paid for by the municipality, is also not so bad.

A lot is being done and tried. Some things are again scrapped as non-functional. Time and again, the point is reached where there is no more leverage.

The plots would have to be transferred to the municipality at a realistic value, demolished, and sold as building land. This will probably lead to legal disputes and rising demolition costs. Properties are even being offered, but at prices more fitting for Nuremberg. What can be renovated has been pretty well taken up through a subsidy. In cases of demolitions with outbuildings, the subsidy is too low, even if the property does not have to be bought. The advice from an architectural firm, paid for by the municipality, is also not so bad. A lot is being done and tried. Some things are also discontinued again as non-functional. Time and again, the point is simply reached where there is no more leverage.

Besides the question of what exactly is a realistic price, there is also the fundamental question of expropriation. Because that is what it is. And especially here there is surely a wide range of appropriate measures. Starting with the use of the right of first refusal, through the formation of public-law cooperatives, up to social housing construction. This is unsatisfactory, I know. But we live in a state that is highly protected by fundamental rights. Just because something is political will does not mean it can lead to the erosion of fundamental rights. Some circumstances we probably have to endure, even if the young family cannot find a little house because Grandpa x, or heir y, would rather let the place rot than sell it cheaply.

What is selling cheaply? If a property cannot be sold for years, the price does not correspond to the real value. That has nothing to do with selling cheaply.

[Donutdörfer] are an economic and ecological problem.