Legal barriers to the energy modernisation of dwellings occupied by low-income tenants and opportunities to overcome these barriers

Case study of Germany
1. Auflage 2024
ISBN: 978-3-658-44192-0
Verlag: Springer

Buch, Englisch, 223 Seiten, Format (B × H): 168 mm x 240 mm, Gewicht: 458 g

Reihe: Schriftenreihe des Instituts für Klimaschutz, Energie und Mobilität

This book explores the legal barriers to energy modernisation in Germany's residential building sector, especially when low-income tenants are involved. It also examines potential solutions to the landlord-tenant dilemma and how they may be applied within the German legal framework. The book conducts an in-depth examination of the regulations, economic factors, and social dynamics that impede progress in energy efficiency improvements. Drawing upon extensive research, comparative case studies, and insights from the Swedish experiences, this book provides a comprehensive analysis of the challenges and opportunities surrounding the decarbonization of dwellings occupied by low-income tenants in Germany. The book explores the concept of energy poverty in Germany and Sweden, and how these countries address it (or don't) within their legal frameworks. It delves the reader into the complexities of German and Swedish legal systems and how they impact the ability to address energy efficiency in low-income housing. The reader can explore the landlord-tenant dilemma and the hurdles faced when trying to invest in energy modernization, with a special focus on low-income tenants. This book takes an in-depth look at the legal landscape, exploring both EU policies and national regulations. Sweden's experience, especially its use of municipal green bonds to finance energy transition projects, offers a valuable lesson for Germany. Drawing on comparative insights from Sweden, which has made strides in addressing similar issues, the book aims to identify transferable legal strategies to facilitate energy transition in the rental housing market. By dissecting the intricacies of regulations and legal frameworks, this book offers innovative solutions that can bridge the gap between climate goals and the realities faced by low-income tenants. This book is intended for a diverse audience, including policymakers, legal professionals, researchers, academics, environmentalists, housing authorities, and advocates for social and climate justice. It serves as an essential resource for those seeking a deeper understanding of the legal complexities surrounding energy modernization in low-income tenant-occupied dwellings and the pathways to surmount these barriers. It serves as a comprehensive resource for those dedicated to dismantling legal barriers to energy efficiency and advancing social and environmental equity.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Karras, Jana

Fachgebiete

• Technische Wissenschaften Bauingenieurwesen Gebäudemanagement, Gebäudeschäden
• Rechtswissenschaften Bürgerliches Recht Privates Baurecht, Architektenrecht
• Technische Wissenschaften Bauingenieurwesen Baurecht, Recht für Ingenieure und Architekten

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Table of contentsAbbreviations1. Introduction1.1. Setting the scene1.2. Theoretical and practical contribution2. Research methodology2.1. Multi-methodological approach2.2. Legal interpretation2.3. Comparative law analysis2.4. Economic analysis of law2.5. Limitations2.5.1. Evaluation criteria and their limitations2.5.2. Linguistic and terminological limitations2.5.3. Limitations related to the literature review2.5.4. Limitations related to replication potential3. Current state of research in defined area from energy efficiency point of view3.1. Background of low-income households3.1.1. Poverty and energy poverty definitions3.1.2. Correlation between low-income and energy efficiency modernisation3.2. The theoretical background of the landlord-tenant dilemma3.3. Relevance of issues for Germany and Sweden4. EU regulative framework4.1. Legal policy background4.1.1. European Policies as guidelines for future legislation4.1.1.1. European Green Deal as a milestone in EU climate change mitigation policy4.1.1.2. Renovation Wave4.1.1.3. “Fit for 55” legislative package4.1.1.4. REPowerEU Plan4.2. Treaty on European Union and Treaty on Functioning of European Union as EU Primary Law4.2.1. Objectives4.2.2. Competencies4.3. Secondary law4.3.1. Introduction and ranking of secondary law sources related to the decarbonisation of dwellings occupied by low-income tenants4.3.2. The European Climate Law4.3.3. The EU Taxonomy Regulation4.3.4. The Effort Sharing Regulation4.3.5. The Regulation on the Energy Union Governance4.3.6. The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive4.3.7. The Energy Efficiency Directive4.4. Conclusion5. Country reports and their comparative analysis5.1. Introduction5.2. German context5.2.1. Non-legal framework5.2.2. German legal framework5.2.2.1. General overview5.2.2.2. Is any level of living conditions, including thermal efficiency, guaranteed by the legislator in Germany?5.2.2.3. Legal barriers related to the decarbonisation of rented dwellings in Germany5.2.2.3.1. Historical background5.2.2.3.3. The “simplified” procedure5.2.2.3.3.1. Modernisation notice5.2.2.3.3.2. Tenant’s obligation to tolerate the energy modernisation5.2.2.3.3.3. Calculation of the modernisation rent increase5.2.2.3.4. Land law barriers5.2.2.4. Critical evaluation of the legal situation5.2.2.4.1. Landlord-tenant dilemma from the perspective of German tenancy law5.2.2.4.2. Legal barriers on the way to energy modernisation of rented building stock5.3. Swedish context5.3.1. Non-legal context and institutional framework5.3.2. Legal framework5.3.2.1. General overview5.3.2.2. Comparative research questions5.3.2.2.1. Is any level of living conditions, including thermal efficiency, guaranteed by the legislator in Sweden?5.3.2.2.2. Are there any legal barriers related to the decarbonisation of rented dwellings in Sweden?5.3.2.2.3. Overcoming the barriers related to decarbonisation of the rented dwellings in the Swedish legal order5.4. Comparing similarities and differences of both countries5.5. Critical evaluation of replicability of the warm rent model to Germany6. Possible solutions6.1. Introduction6.2. Are any instruments outside rental law applicable to decarbonising dwellings occupied by low-income tenants?6.2.1. Germany6.2.1.1.1. KfW programmes6.2.1.1.2. Reform of public law levies6.2.1.1.2.1. CO2-Pricing through ETS6.2.1.1.2.2. Building Renovation Tax6.2.1.1.2.3. Energy tax reform6.2.2.1.2. Concept of partial warm rent as reform of heating cost allocation6.2.2. Sweden6.2.2.1. Green Bonds7. Description of results7.1. Critical evaluation of partial warm rent model7.2. Reform of public law levies7.3. Instruments mobilising private investment7.3.1. Municipal green bonds7.3.1.1. Status quo in Germany7.3.1.2. Legal barriers7.3.1.2.1. European level7.3.1.2.2. Federal level7.3.1.2.3. Länder level7.3.1.2.3.1. Constitutional law of Länder7.3.1.2.3.2. Ordinary legislation of Länder7.3.1.3. Possible solutions under the current legal framework7.3.1.3.1. Issuance of green bonds by legally autonomous legal entities7.3.1.3.2. Issuance of green bonds by private credit institutions7.3.2. Summarising8. Conclusion

Über Autor(innen)

Jana Karras specialises in German and Ukrainian law, international climate policy and climate finance. She has experience in international research and consultancy projects on developing and overseeing capacity building and knowledge sharing activities. Jana Karras focuses on the financing of the energy transition and climate measures, the evaluation of policy approaches in the field of energy efficiency and climate policy at the global, regional, national, and local levels. Jana Karras accessed national institutional and financial capacities and developed options to improve the access to the IKI and was involved in the development of climate change projects in Central Asia, East and South Europe. She contributed to the work on assessing legal and financing options for Berlin and Spree-Neiße to facilitate energy transition in the project “Energy Transition in Social Space – ESRa and to enabling exchange with best practices on financing the implementation of climate and energy management in municipalities of Germany, Slovakia, and Czechia with project “EnPowerClimate” (EUKI/BMU). Jana Karras holds a master’s degree in law from the National University “Law Academy of Ukraine named after Yaroslav Mudryi”. She has also successfully passed the first state examination in law in Germany (Diplom-Juristin, Greifswald University) and is currently completing her legal clerkship at the Naumburg Higher Regional Court in Saxony-Anhalt.