German Ministry Keeps Real Estate Manager Training Rule, BVI Urges Upgrade

The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy had intended to repeal the mandatory continuing‑education obligation for real‑estate managers and brokers under § 34c Abs. 2a GewO. After extensive parliamentary discussions and strong criticism from industry groups, the ministry withdrew the proposal, keeping the training requirement in place.

The BVI Bundesfachverband der Immobilienverwalter, representing more than 800 firms that manage roughly 1.4 million residential units, welcomed the reversal. It stresses that the rule – requiring at least 20 hours of training within three calendar years (about seven hours per year) – is essential for legal certainty, quality assurance and consumer protection, especially given the sector’s responsibility for assets worth billions and its contribution to the energy transition. BVI President Thomas Meier called the retention “a clear commitment to professional standards” and urged expanding the duty to a minimum of 20 hours per year, allowing internal courses to count toward the quota.