The decision to relocate the government from Nafplio to Athens was rushed and resulted in serious problems for the residents of Athens. The royal household, the government, the army units, and many new residents from Greece and abroad settled in the city in the span of a few weeks. The population rose from 7000 people in 1834 to more than 14000 two years later. The German architect F. Stauffert claimed that new buildings appeared like mushrooms but most new residences were poorly built. The average house took four weeks to complete and was subsequently rented for six months or a year at a substantial profit for the owner.