Second home tax for Templin allotment arbors: A hot potato!

Second home tax for Templin allotment arbors: A hot potato!

There is currently a hot topic on the table in Templin: the second home tax on allotment gardens. The discussion about this is accompanied by a third proposal from the UBW parliamentary group, which stands alongside the existing proposals from the AfD and “The Left Party”. The aim of these applications is to retroactively exempt arbors belonging to members of non-profit allotment garden associations from second home tax from 2021. This important point will be debated in the city's urban development committee on Monday, January 26th at 5 p.m., as reported by NNN.

The city administration had already sent survey forms to allotment gardeners, which immediately led to protests in the community. The UBW has drawn up the application to change the current paragraph 6 of the statutes on the collection of second home tax. Currently, gazebos are not considered second homes. While the UBW's application seeks to protect the arbors of non-profit allotment garden associations, the AfD is pursuing a similar approach, but wants to expand the minimum size for taxation to over 28 square meters.

Unity in Parliament for allotment garden protection

Meanwhile, there is also agreement within Parliament on the issue, as the SPD parliamentary group MV reports. Many MPs see a partial tax levied in some municipalities as illegal and demand that the municipal tax law not be misused to tax gazebos. Non-profit allotment gardens fall under the Federal Allotment Garden Act and, according to the current legal situation, gazebos may not be taxed.

Angelika Peters from the SPD emphasizes the importance of clarity in allotment gardens and points out that permanent living in allotment gardens is prohibited. It calls for strict punishment of violations, but without punishing all allotment gardeners. This concern is supported by Interior Minister Lorenz Caffier (CDU), who, however, points out that the condition of the arbor also plays a role.

Peters warns of the danger that the levying of a second home tax could result in an abuse of the Federal Allotment Garden Act. Only the withdrawal of non-profit status would justify the imposition of such a tax. In addition, the oppositional view is represented by Peter Ritter (DIE LINKE), who calls for a new definition of the term allotment garden and thus advocates for the rights of allotment gardeners.

In summary, it can be said that the discussion about the second home tax on gazebos in Templin has become an important topic in the city. In addition, the joint motions and the consensus in Parliament show that almost all parliamentary groups take the concerns of allotment gardeners seriously and are committed to opposing unjustified taxation.