Initial consultation through new refurbishment coaching
Landrat Florian Wiedemann (Bayreuth), Dritter Bürgermeister Stefan Schuh (Stadt Bayreuth), Mareike Rödel (Leerstands- und Regionalmanagement Landkreis Hof), Markus Bauernfeind (Leerstandsmanagement Landkreis Wunsiedel i.F.), Beate Kadner-Rausch (Projektmanagement Stadt Bayreuth), Bürgermeisterin Angela Bier (Stadt Hof), Christian Weigand (Immobilienoffensive Stadt Hof), Stephanie Schuler (Fachbereichsleitung Umwelt, Baurecht und Bauordnung Stadt Hof), Christine Schleicher (Leerstands- und Regionalmanagement Landkreis Hof), Adrian Müller (Regionale Entwicklungsagentur Landkreis Bayreuth), Roland Schöffel (Stellverteter des Landrats Wunsiedel i.F.), Landrat Dr. Oliver Bär (Hof).
Good news for anyone who wants to tackle a building refurbishment: Applications for initial refurbishment advice can now be submitted again to the regional and vacancy management offices of the city and district of Hof, the district of Wunsiedel i. F. and the city and district of Bayreuth. The new refurbishment coaching programme also offers additional advice in the new 2025-2027 funding period.
Successful Upper Franconian cooperation on vacant properties
The five local authorities have been working together successfully in the area of vacancy management since 2019. The cooperation is supported with regional management funds from the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy. Together, information materials are produced to revitalise the town centres and reduce land consumption, event series such as the "Refurbishment Action Days" are held and initial advice is provided by experts for vacant properties.
To mark the start of the new regional management funding period for the years 2025 to 2027, the cooperation partners organised a kick-off event for their joint vacant property cooperation in Helmbrechts (photo). After a review of the activities of the vacant property cooperation in previous funding periods and the presentation of some successfully implemented refurbishments from the region, the new extended refurbishment coaching programme was presented. The event was attended by mayors and around 40 guests, including municipal representatives and project partners such as architects, structural engineers and building tradesmen.
New offer for those interested in refurbishment
The topic of building and renovation is often associated with questions and uncertainties for non-professionals. This is why we offer refurbishment coaching, in which an initial concept is developed together with cooperating architecture firms to develop an idea of what can be created from a vacant property and what challenges need to be tackled. Since its introduction in 2019, the advisory service has developed into a successful model in the region with 280 "vouchers" issued and has already been useful for numerous refurbishments in the cooperation area.
The instrument has been further developed for the current funding period and the framework conditions have been adapted. In addition to the classic initial refurbishment consultation, it is now possible to book up to two additional in-depth specialist consultations on the recommendation of the architectural firm. These so-called "supplementary modules" can cover the areas of building biology, structural design, tax advice or DIY advice, i.e. support with planned in-house work. The supplementary modules are intended to build on the initial consultation and clarify further questions for renovators.
Even before the initial consultation with an expert, applicants can get an impression of a new façade design or interior layout using a subsidised AI-supported visualisation. Property owners can submit up to eight images for processing using artificial intelligence and try out different interior design styles.
Prerequisites
A number of formal requirements must be met in order to be able to take advantage of the consultation offer, and these have also been adjusted slightly. For example, the vouchers can now also be used for buildings that were built before 1980, not before 1970 as was previously the case. The building should have been vacant or underused for at least 12 months and ideally be located in the town centre or its activation should contribute to the revitalisation of inner-town residential areas. It is essential that there is a serious willingness to renovate. To use the voucher, a nominal fee of €150 must be paid in advance to the vacancy management department of the relevant local authority. In return, those willing to redevelop will receive a consultancy service worth around €1,500.
Further information
Your contact at the City of Hof's property campaign is Christian Weigand, immobilienoffensive(at)stadt-hof.de. Further information can be found on the property campaign website.
An information brochure on refurbishment coaching with further information on how to apply and the cooperating architectural firms and experts is available from the regional and vacancy management offices of the five local authorities at
Refurbishment coaching brochure
Refurbishment coaching is subsidised with regional management funds from the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy.