Leerstehende

Leerstehende is a German term used in urban planning and real estate to describe buildings or premises that are vacant and unoccupied. The term can function as an adjective (leerstehende Gebäude) or as a noun (die Leerstehenden) referring to the vacant properties themselves.

Vacant properties emerge in both rural and urban areas and result from various factors: market downturns, speculative investment, inheritance disputes, neglect, or regulatory barriers to redevelopment. They may be temporary or long-term; some buildings are waiting for sale, renovation, or reuse, while others remain unused for years.

The presence of leerstehende properties can affect neighborhoods by reducing vitality, attracting vandalism, or lowering property values and municipal revenues. At the same time, vacant spaces can offer opportunities for temporary uses, cultural programs, or pilot projects to test new housing or commercial ideas. Policy responses include data collection and transparency on vacancy, incentives to convert or lease spaces, support for rehabilitation and adaptive reuse, and regulatory measures to discourage neglect.

Etymology and usage: The word derives from leer (empty) and stehen (to stand). In practice, leerstehende is widely used in German-speaking policy documents, planning reports, and journalism to discuss unoccupied property and urban vacancy.