“Imagine living here and paying the same rent as you did in 2008.” You might overhear someone saying that right here in front of Ligsalz8 – Das münchner Syndikatshaus. This building, nestled in Munich’s vibrant Westend, is no ordinary apartment building. It’s a testament to a radical idea: housing as a right, not a commodity. Ligsalz8 is a Mietshäuser Syndikat project, a model born from Germany’s activist past.
In the 1980s, squatters facing eviction sought a way to own their homes collectively. They created the Mietshäuser Syndikat, a non-profit organization that helps housing projects acquire and manage buildings, ensuring they remain affordable and collectively owned. Ligsalz8 embodies this vision. The residents, all members of a housing association, collectively own the building through a unique legal structure. This structure, replicated across numerous Mietshäuser Syndikat projects, removes the building from the speculative market. This ensures that residents at Ligsalz8 enjoy secure, affordable housing. They pay a stable rent, shielded from the volatility of Munich’s housing market.