Rent: The Case of a Man from Bolzano raises Concerns – Real Estate Agent calls for Changes to the Regulations
Bolzano – The idea of designating apartments as affordable housing to make living more accessible for locals is a well-intentioned strategy. However, the law has its flaws, as exemplified by the case of a 42-year-old man from Bolzano.*
Martin Oberhofer* takes a sip of water. A mix of anger, sadness, and frustration defines his emotional state. But above all, it’s the uncertainty that weighs heaviest. “At some point, I’ll probably end up on the streets,” he says sarcastically.
Over a year ago, Martin and his long-term partner separated. She continues to live with their two young children in the apartment the couple purchased together six years ago. Martin, on the other hand, has found temporary refuge in the guest room of his parents’ house and has been searching ever since for an affordable rental apartment in his hometown. But the prices on the open market are astronomical. “They’re asking €1,000 or more for 60 square meters,” Martin explains. “I simply can’t afford that.”
Friends advised him to look for a regulated rental apartment, which would cost significantly less at around €750 per month. But here’s where Martin encounters an insurmountable obstacle. Since he already owns a regulated apartment, the law prohibits him from renting another one. “That’s completely illogical,” he says, unable to hide his frustration. As a father, not only does he have to pay child support, but the law also denies him access to reasonably priced housing. “Something is clearly wrong,” Martin insists.
André Benedict Niederkofler is not surprised by Martin’s story. The real estate agent and secretary of the South Tyrolean Real Estate Association is familiar with several similar cases and confirms that housing regulations in South Tyrol often cause problems—particularly when couples separate. “What was originally intended to protect locals increasingly turns out to be an obstacle,” Niederkofler says.
This is hardly surprising, given that three out of ten marriages in South Tyrol currently end in divorce, in addition to around 540 legal separations each year—and those are just the official numbers. Niederkofler is therefore calling for amendments to the relevant provincial law, which also disadvantages couples who want to move in together as owners of regulated apartments.
Martin, however, cannot wait for the laws to change. His only option is to leave his hometown and look for a place to live far away from his workplace and children.
*Name and location have been changed by the editorial team.
