By Danilo Gladow
Cold frustration in Reinickendorf: At temperatures around 15 degrees, the tenants of Reinickendorfer Büchsenweg 26c and 26d have to freeze in their apartments for around three weeks. They feel let down by Deutsche Wohnen.
“You’ve already noticed how cold it is in here,” says tenant Frank Mohnstein (62) as he looks at his indoor thermometer. It shows 15.6 degrees. “I have to go to bed with the hot water bottle in the evening – otherwise you can’t survive the night.”
Nothing comes from the landlord. Since the beginning of this year’s heating season on October 1st, he and the other 14 tenants of the two houses have been waiting in vain for the warmth they longed for.
The affected staircases in Reinickendorfer Büchsenweg Photo: Thomas Spikermann
He had written to the landlord, Deutsche Wohnen, several times – he was still waiting for an answer. “And on the phone you get brushed off with excuses,” he says. A notice with information about the situation cannot be seen.
New tenant Luis Jerez (29), who only moved in two weeks ago, is also struggling with Deutsche Wohnen’s communication. “My wife and I are both sick. The temperature in the apartment doesn’t make it any better,” he says. And further: “We call every day – nothing happens.”
According to Deutsche Wohnen, when BZ asked, “after a thorough check, there was actually a malfunction. We have technicians on site and will ensure a lasting repair.”
And: “Due to the heating failure, a rent reduction will of course be checked and implemented if required.” Now the heating should run again.
That’s what the tenants’ association says
According to the Berlin Tenants Association e. V., the landlord must immediately turn on the heating as soon as the room temperature falls below 16° C during the day because there is then a health risk.
If the heating is not working properly and the landlord does not fix the problems in a timely manner, you as a tenant have the right to reduce the rent. The amount of the rent reduction depends on the severity of the problem.
0 percent: If the heating fails in the warm summer months. 5 percent: If the room temperature is between 18 and 19° C. 20 percent: At a room temperature between 16 and 18° C. 30 percent: At room temperatures between 16° C and 18° C in winter. 50 percent: In the event of a heating failure in winter without precise information about the average room temperature. 75 percent: If it is impossible to heat the apartment during the heating season. 100 percent: In the event of a total heating failure during the heating period.