Tenant rights for houses at risk of collapse: What tenants need to know

Tenant rights for houses at risk of collapse: What tenants need to know

In Schöneberg, several tenants had to leave their apartments for the time being because their house is in danger of collapse. The decision as to when a building is in danger of collapsing lies with the building inspectorate. The owner is obliged to take measures at his own expense in order to prevent the collapse of the building and the endangerment of neighboring properties. This includes obtaining an expert opinion on stability.

In the specific case of the house in Schöneberg, there were already cracks in the house facade. Tenants of neglected houses with such damage can turn on the construction and housing supervision of their district in order to increase the pressure on owners. The authority can ask the landlord to take appropriate measures based on the Housing Supervision Act.

In the event of an forced move out of the house, tenants must receive further costs. This includes, for example, the reimbursement of catering costs, travel costs between the apartment and the hotel, as well as the storage of necessary utensils near the hotel. All editions should be documented with receipts.

If the building should ultimately collect or torn down, tenants lose their protection. In this case, the landlord does not have to rebuild the building nor offer the tenants new residential contracts for equivalent accommodations. However, during the process of removing the building, the rent must be reduced by 100 percent, and the landlord must continue to provide replacement accommodation.