Göttingen in crisis mode: Council fights against unsustainable living conditions!

Göttingen in crisis mode: Council fights against unsustainable living conditions!

The city of Göttingen is faced with serious challenges in connection with a residential complex on Groner Landstrasse. The city council has now reacted to the “unacceptable conditions” in this facility and is calling on the administration to take appropriate measures. In the residential complex, which offers a total of 432 residential units for an estimated 700 people, problems are piling up: from frequent accumulations of garbage to repeated fires to stolen bicycles. The situation is so precarious that the Council has ordered a comprehensive review of all legal aspects in order to find solutions. This ranges from the consideration of compulsory administration to the possible foreclosure auction of the apartments that are owned by an insolvent majority owner who holds two-thirds of the stock. This lack of clarity meant that 110 apartments were already empty by 2024. Since September 2023, the city has been working as a mediator between the insolvency administrators, the property owner administration and other parties involved in order to improve the living situation of the residents. However, the SPD council group has noted that, despite all efforts, further legal options still need to be developed to help tenants. A non-public special committee, initiated by the Greens, is convened to discuss options for action. The plans should be available by the end of October 2025 at the latest, as the condition in the apartments is worrying, also from a hygiene perspective.

How did this situation come about? A site visit was organized in April 2024 to see the living conditions on site for yourself. The municipal office for the improvement of precarious residential properties invited people to offer support to the residents and to take their complaints seriously. It turned out that before the pandemic, regular inspections took place to check aspects such as fire protection, hygiene and pest infestation. The new measure also included information hotlines to offer support to residents. The head of operations at the Göttingen police station accompanied this operation because there were indications of inappropriate behavior on the part of some residents. Two police drones were even deployed to ensure security. The city wants to prevent the situation from deteriorating and escalating the already tense atmosphere.

The great housing shortage

The problem of housing conditions in Göttingen is not necessarily an isolated case. There is a total shortage of around 1.9 million affordable apartments in large German cities. Single people with low incomes and large families, who are often dependent on help, are particularly affected. The developments in Göttingen follow a worrying trend, which is further exacerbated by high construction costs and interest rates. The slow progress in the construction of new social housing must also be seen in this context. Experts are already warning of dramatic conditions and calling for measures to strengthen public housing.

While the city administration in Göttingen is trying to solve the pressing problems, the major challenges in the housing market are a widespread issue in Germany. The traffic light government has set itself the goal of building 400,000 new apartments every year, but the reality is different. The number of completions could fall to historic lows in the coming years, further complicating the situation for many people who urgently need affordable housing. It is therefore all the more important that cities like Göttingen step up and find solutions for their citizens.