Mold alarm in Göttingen: Tenants are threatened with uninhabitable apartments!

Mold alarm in Göttingen: Tenants are threatened with uninhabitable apartments!

A worrying situation has developed for many tenants in an apartment block on Groner Landstrasse in Göttingen. Tenant Calina Farcas-Moldovan has documented the catastrophic condition of her apartment, which is characterized, among other things, by massive mold infestation. Their complaints have now led to lawyers Sven Adam and Nils Spörkel initiating urgent proceedings to have the apartment declared uninhabitable. The aim is for the city of Göttingen to accommodate the tenant and her four children in more suitable accommodation at the landlord's expense, while aiming for a 100 percent rent reduction. However, this misery is not the exception, but affects the majority of the block's residents.

More than 145 of 161 tenants are in arrears, which only worsens the situation for the entire block. Dominik Fricke, managing director of Coeles GmbH, which acts as an apartment owner management company, has already announced that it will issue electric heaters to tenants - but only to those without rent arrears. The accusation of welfare fraud is particularly alarming; Some tenants do not pass on the rents paid by the job center to the landlords. The city of Göttingen has so far only been able to identify 31 tenants who pay their rent independently.

The difficulties of Coeles GmbH

Coeles GmbH is not only struggling with the rent debt crisis, but is also facing its own financial difficulties. It is reported that the defective heaters will not be repaired before the end of the heating season - a circumstance that could be extremely unpleasant for the affected tenants in the coming winter months. Mayor Petra Broistedt sharply criticized the landlords' mismanagement and pointed out their social responsibility. A third of the apartments in the block of flats are currently empty, which makes the situation appear even more tense.

The city is examining possible steps to declare it uninhabitable, but sees high hurdles for doing so. The legal basis is clearly regulated in German tenancy law. According to the provisions of the Civil Code (BGB) on tenancy law, a rent reduction applies if there are significant defects, and the tenant's right to make demands in the event of untenable living conditions is well protected.

Insight into the legal framework

In these difficult times, it is advisable to seek legal help. On the mietrecht.com platform, tenants can find valuable information about their rights and the regulations that apply to tenancy law, from Section 535 about the rights and obligations of the tenants to the social clause, which helps tenants in cases of hardship. In such cases, it is advisable to seek the support of specialist lawyers in order to enforce your own claims.

Overall, however, this problem does not reflect an isolated case, but is symptomatic of the striking imbalance in the rental sector. Damage cases such as mold infestation and unsuitability for housing, combined with landlords' financial difficulties, require both legal and social solutions.

The situation may not be stabilized for a long time unless urgent measures are taken. Tenants should be aware of their rights and seek legal assistance if necessary to secure a good home for themselves and their families.