The surrounding buildings in Upper Lusatia are still under great threat due to vacancies, conversions and demolition. "The stock has decreased significantly over the last 100 years and especially since the 1990s," said Saxony's state curator Alf Furkert. According to him, around 40 percent of typical regional buildings are currently awaiting restoration. In Saxony, around 6,500 Umgebindehäuser are on the list of monuments, of which around 5,900 are in the districts of Bautzen and Görlitz.
"The state of preservation and renovation varies greatly, but overall it is better than it was 20 or 30 years ago," Furkert estimated. Since the 1990s, many buildings have been renovated in line with the requirements of listed buildings, especially in places of tourist or cultural-historical importance such as Ebersbach-Neugersdorf, Seifhennersdorf, Cunewalde and Oybin. However, vacancies remain a problem, particularly in structurally weaker towns, as there is often a lack of subsequent use or buyers. Buildings in unfavourable locations, such as on busy roads and in flooded areas, usually deter prospective buyers.
