Neukölln: Kiez initiative announces wave of lawsuits against Adler Group

For three years, an unrenovated, burnt-out apartment at Aronsstraße 73 in the Weiße Siedlung in Neukölln has been causing discontent. Despite a fine already imposed on the owner of the building, Adler Group , nothing has been done to renovate it, reported the Facetten magazine Neukölln. On Saturday, February 22, a tenant voiced clear criticism at a protest meeting: "Pigeons are now nesting in the apartment and that is a health hazard for all of us."

The tenant stressed the need to file a lawsuit against the landlord if he continues to neglect his legal obligations. She also believes that the Neukölln district has a responsibility to intervene with measures such as substitute performance or compulsory administration.

The list of defects is long: broken elevators, mold, missing lighting in the hallways, poor accessibility to the administration, and no hot water or electricity. Other residents reported problems with garbage and rats . "With the 'eliminate defects, defend tenancy rights' campaign, we want to force Adler to take legal action to remedy the defects," said a spokeswoman for the "Kiez-Initiative Weiße Siedlung."

Apartments in Sonnenallee: 16 floors without elevator

In an open letter from spring 2024, more than 1,000 tenants demanded improvements. A resident of Sonnenallee 279 reported: "The elevator in our 16-story building is constantly broken. This is a big problem for my father, who is seriously ill and needs intensive care." His father can only be transported lying down and he has already missed important appointments at the hospital because of the broken elevators. "This is life-threatening!" the man warned.

The initiative is supported by the Berlin Tenants' Association and the "Expropriate Deutsche Wohnen & Co" initiative. Hakan Demir, SPD member of the Bundestag from Neukölln, and district councilor Jochen Biedermann (Greens) have also pledged their support to the tenants. Ferat Koçak , Left Party politician and newly elected member of the Bundestag, plans to accompany the tenants to a meeting with the health department to discuss the unhygienic conditions. If there is no fundamental improvement in six months, the neighborhood initiative will hold another rally.

Source: Facetten-Magazin Neukölln