German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development

What German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development does

The German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development (Deutscher Verband für Wohnungswesen, Städtebau und Raumordnung e.V., "DV") is a non-profit membership association founded in 1946 and headquartered in Berlin, with a permanent representation office in Brussels operating since 1994. It functions as a cross-stakeholder dialogue and knowledge transfer platform for German and European housing, urban development, and spatial planning policy, convening participants from federal, state, and municipal governments, public, cooperative, and private housing companies, financial institutions, scientific institutions, planners, architects, and civil society organizations. Its core offerings are five permanent working groups (Housing; Europe; Energy/Real Estate/Urban Development; ifs Property Ownership; and the Generation Question Common Good), national and European project coordination, network management (including the embedded ifs Institut Wohneigentum), policy positions and statements, publications, an annual conference, and national contact point services for EU funding programs such as URBACT and the European Urban Initiative.

The DV does not sell commercial software, services, or products and offers no public or partner-facing API; its underlying technology is fundamentally a convening and content platform. The association is governed by a General Assembly, Board, and Verbandsrat (Association Council), with Guido Beermann elected President in September 2024, and is led operationally by Generalsekretär Christian Huttenloher and Geschäftsführerin Kathrin Senner, with Dr. René Peter Hohmann heading the Brussels office. It is funded through membership dues, accompanist agency contracts with federal ministries (notably BMWSB and BBSR), and public/EU project grants. The organization's strategic role is to balance competing interests across stakeholders and to serve as the institutional bridge between Bund, Länder, municipalities, and the European Commission in shaping integrated housing, urban development, and spatial planning policy.

Name

German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development

Legal name

Deutscher Verband für Wohnungswesen, Städtebau und Raumordnung e.V.

Website

https://deutscher-verband.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development (DV) is a Berlin- and Brussels-based non-profit membership association founded in 1946 that serves as a cross-stakeholder dialogue and knowledge transfer platform for German and European housing, urban development, and spatial planning policy, convening governments, the housing industry, science, and civil society.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Policy Dialogue and Housing Advocacy Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

Keywords

• Housing policy dialogue
• Urban development advisory
• Spatial planning coordination
• Affordable housing advocacy
• European urban initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: The DV operates as a membership-based association with members from Bund, Länder, Kommunen, housing industry, private landlords, owner-occupiers, tenants, financial institutions, science, planners, architects, and civil society organizations. Revenue is generated through membership contributions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The DV is a non-profit dialogue platform that brings together stakeholders from politics, administration, business, science, and civil society to advance housing, urban development, and spatial planning in Germany and Europe. Its core offerings include five permanent working groups, national and European project coordination, managed networks such as the ifs Institut Wohneigentum, publications and policy positions, an annual conference, and national contact point services for EU funding programs.

Product overview

The German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development (DV) operates as a unified dialog platform rather than a technology product company. Its core offering consists of facilitating dialogue, knowledge exchange, and networking among stakeholders in housing, urban development, and spatial planning. The portfolio includes five permanent working groups (housing, urban planning, energy, European affairs, property ownership), national and European project coordination, network management (including the ifs Institut Wohneigentum), publications (newsletters, position papers, studies, annual reports), an annual conference, and contact point services for EU funding programs. All offerings are service-based and collaborative rather than software or technology products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ifs Institut Wohneigentum: Institute for property ownership affiliated with DV, addressing fundamental questions of property ownership formation and financing.
• Vernetzungsinitiative Gemeinsam für das Quartier
• Bundesprogramm Zukunftsfähige Innenstädte und Zentren

Products and services

• Five Working Groups (Arbeitsgruppen) Five permanent working groups (housing, urban planning, energy/real estate/urban development, ifs Property Ownership, and the Generation Question Common Good) that convene expert exchange and joint position development among DV members throughout the year.
• Projects and Initiatives Coordinated and partnered projects on sustainable urban development, housing policy, climate protection in buildings, and spatial planning at national and European levels, including accompaniment agency work for the federal Bündnis bezahlbarer Wohnraum alliance.
• Networks Managed and participated networks, including the German-Austrian URBAN Network, the ifs Institut Wohneigentum, and the European Route of Brick Gothic, supporting cross-stakeholder urban development cooperation.
• Annual Conference (Jahrestagung) An annual public specialist conference held in Berlin that brings together 100-200+ participants from politics, administration, business, and science for dialogue on housing, urban development, and spatial planning.
• Publications and Newsletters Knowledge outputs including press releases, position papers, themed newsletters (DV aktuell, EU-Info, ifs Newsletter Wohneigentum), studies, annual reports, and topical commentaries on housing, urban development, and spatial planning.
• ifs Institut Wohneigentum (ifs Property Ownership Institute) Housed at the DV since 2016, the ifs Institute for Property Ownership addresses fundamental questions of property ownership formation and financing across Germany and advocates for favorable framework conditions.
• ifs Wohnungspolitisches Forum (ifs Housing Policy Forum) An annual event organized by the ifs Institut Wohneigentum that focuses on property ownership promotion instruments and the policy frameworks necessary to support affordable housing and ownership formation.
• National Contact Points for EU Programs (URBACT and EUI) National Contact Point services for the European URBACT program and the European Urban Initiative (EUI), providing German cities and stakeholders with funding information, application advice, project call communication, events, and dissemination of results.

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered historical, core, major and minor.

• IFHP - International Federation for Housing, Urban and Spatial DevelopmenthistoricalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007The DV traces its roots to the International Federation for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development (IFHP), founded after World War I. IFHP moved from Germany to England during WWII and is now headquartered in the Netherlands.
• European Urban Initiative (EUI) - National Contact PointcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDV serves as the National Contact Point for the European Urban Initiative (EUI) in Germany, supporting and informing German cities and stakeholders about current funding opportunities.
• URBACT - National Contact PointcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDV serves as the German National Contact Point for URBACT, a European program for sustainable urban development. They advise on applications, communicate project calls, organize events, and disseminate results.
• BBSR - Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und RaumforschungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing research collaboration with the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development on topics including urban development studies and housing policy.
• BMWSB - Bundesministerium für Wohnen, Stadtentwicklung und BauwesencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose cooperation with the Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Building on policy advisory, accompaniment agency work, and project coordination.
• Deutsch-Österreichisches URBAN-NetzwerkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of municipalities, Länder, Bund, and EU Commission for EU-funded urban development. Supports German and Austrian cities in implementing integrated development measures financed by European Structural Funds.
• Leipzig Charta InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDV contributed to the first Leipzig Charta (2007) and the New Leipzig Charta (2020) - key European policy documents for integrated sustainable urban development.
• Territoriale Agenda of the EUcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDV contributed to the Territorial Agenda 2007 and its 2030 update - fundamental documents for European spatial development policy.
• Interreg B ProgramsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive participation in Interreg B transnational cooperation programs for spatial development, including coordination of 'Peripheral Access' project (2017-2020) on mobility in rural areas.
• ifs Institut WohneigentumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform for discussing property ownership issues, housed at DV since 2016. Continues the tradition of the former 'ifs - Institute for Urban Development, Housing and Building Savings'.
• Empirica AGmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerResearch partnership on housing studies, accompaniment agency for 'Bündnis bezahlbarer Wohnraum', and various urban development research projects.
• Difu - Deutsches Institut für UrbanistikmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaboration on ExWoSt research project on inner-development instruments for residential construction and other urban development studies.
• BTU Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-SenftenbergmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for urban management research, accompaniment of federal programs, and European cooperation projects including New Leipzig Charta dialogue process.
• Bündnis bezahlbarer WohnraumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDV serves as accompaniment agency for the Federal Alliance for Affordable Housing and Building, supporting the BMWSB with content and organizational work.
• European Commission - DG REGIO and related directoratescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect engagement with European Commission services through Brussels office for policy shaping in cohesion policy, urban development, and building energy efficiency.
• Urbanen Agenda für die EU - Thematische Partnerschaft DekarbonisierungmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDV is a partner in the Thematic Partnership for Decarbonization of Buildings under the Urban Agenda for the EU, funded by Bavarian State Ministry.
• Europäische Route der Backsteingotik (EuRoB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDV was involved in founding this association of cities, municipalities, regions, and institutions sharing brick Gothic heritage for cultural tourism promotion.
• DSSW - Deutsches Seminar für Städtebau und WirtschafthistoricalStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 1990 to support practical work in East German cities with seminars, training, and project management recommendations to strengthen endangered inner cities.
• Bundesverband DIE STADTENTWICKLERmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative on sustainable land mobilization and soil policy, shared positions on urban development, and collaboration on 'Zukunftsfähige Innenstädte' programs.
• Klimabündnis Stadtentwicklung BrandenburgmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDV supports the Climate Alliance for Urban Development in Brandenburg as part of Beratungsstelle Klimagerechte Kommune (BSKK) together with B.B.S.M.
• PD - Berater der öffentlichen Hand GmbHmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaboration on expert report for Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economics on optimization potentials of land reserves and land funds for settlement projects.
• Vagedes & SchmidmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership in accompaniment agency work for 'Bündnis bezahlbarer Wohnraum' and real estate dialogue initiative support.
• DSK - Deutsche Stadt- und GrundstücksentwicklungsgesellschaftmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership in accompaniment agency for federal program 'Zukunftsfähige Innenstädte und Zentren' and 'Generationenfrage Gemeinwohl' format.
• INFRASTRUKTUR & UMWELTmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaboration on Territorial Agenda 2030 implementation (pilot action for lagging regions) and 'Zukunft der europäischen Zusammenarbeit' MORO project.
• STADT ALS CAMPUSmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in networking initiative 'Gemeinsam für das Quartier' coordinating real estate industry, municipalities, and civil society for community-oriented urban development.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Difu - Deutsches Institut für Urbanistik: Germany's leading municipal research institute for urban development, working on the same housing, climate, and spatial policy topics as DV and frequently co-publishing studies and joint positions. Closely comparable as a Berlin-based, dialogue-and-research intermediary between municipalities, federal government, and academia.
• Deutscher Städtetag: The association of German cities, representing municipal interests on urban development and housing policy. Overlaps with DV's municipal membership segment and shares policy dialogue channels with BMWSB.
• Eurocities: European network of major cities that convenes municipal leaders on urban policy and is a key counterpart for DV's European-level work. Comparable as a membership-driven urban policy dialogue platform, though operating at city-government rather than national-federal level.
• IFHP - International Federation for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development: The international federation from which DV traces its institutional roots, now headquartered in the Netherlands. Operates as the global counterpart convening housing and urban planning stakeholders, with overlapping working groups and policy missions.
• ZIA - Zentraler Immobilien Ausschuss: Germany's umbrella real estate industry association representing the full property value chain. Comparable as a cross-stakeholder convening and policy advocacy body, though with a stronger commercial real estate orientation.
• GdW - Bundesverband deutscher Wohnungs- und Immobilienunternehmen: The federal association of German housing and real estate companies. Shares a substantial part of DV's industry membership base and competes for influence on housing legislation, but with a sharper industry-lobby focus.

Others

• Empirica AG: Berlin-based research and consulting firm working on housing markets, demographics, and policy. Listed as a research and accompaniment partner of DV, and a relevant comparable on housing-policy evidence production.

Broad incumbents

• BBSR - Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung: Federal research institute under BMWSB that produces much of Germany's official urban and housing research. DV partners with BBSR but competes for the same policy advisory and evidence-provision role, with BBSR carrying greater institutional weight and budget.
• ULI Europe - Urban Land Institute: Global real estate and urban development membership organization with European programming in Berlin. Comparable as a cross-stakeholder dialogue and research platform on land use, housing, and city building.

Emerging players

• ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability: Global network of local and regional governments focused on sustainable urban development. Comparable as a multi-stakeholder urban sustainability platform with growing relevance in EU programming that DV also convenes around.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/deutscher-verband-f-r-wohnungswesen-st-dtebau-und-raumordnung

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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