ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on housing policy in the Federal Republic of Germany, its background, its financing, its laws and some of its implications. It shows that how an originally socially oriented programme, harnessing private initiative with public support, can change into a speculative process over the years. With the exception of education, the Federal concept itself - which had been formulated by the three Western Powers in the 'Basis Law' for West Germany after World War II - was being undermined. The amazing re-building programme which was implemented after the Second World War in West Germany has been seen as a model for many other countries in Europe. The emphasis and layout of cities during the post-war rebuilding period changed several times. Some associations would remain, under the control of local councils, to manage newer stock, again on a local area basis, and new regional housing associations would carry out new building and the rehabilitation of older buildings.
