This is apparent from a decision by the judge in Haarlem in the case that the eight tenants had filed against the COA. The previous owner of the building already canceled the lease agreement of the companies last year. Then it turned out that the building was sold to the COA. The COA demanded that the tenants had to have left on 1 March by 1 March.
Because the companies have difficulty finding a suitable location to carry out their work, they relied on the ‘evacuation protection’. The judge believes that the interests of the tenants outweigh those of the COA. This has to do with, among other things, the fact that the COA had not yet applied for an environmental permit for the renovation of the building.
First master lottelaan
For the time being, this renovation will be delayed, because the COA will first renovate the adjacent building on Masterlottelaan 301. Refugees from Ukraine are taken care of there. Those work only start in April.
The director of import and export company Dit -IS – one of the tenants of Dreef 48 – says he is ‘happy’ with the ruling from his holiday address. The COA does not appeal against the decision, a spokesperson reports. “We will continue to prepare for the renovation of Dreef 48. This all causes some delay, which only increases the pressure on the emergency shelter in Ter Apel, for example. That is annoying, because we don’t want people to have to go out to sleep.”
No consequences for Haarlem
A spokesperson for Haarlem mayor Jos Wienen reports that the judge’s decision has no consequences for the reception policy of the municipality. “It’s a shame for people who are now in the emergency shelter. They can’t come to Haarlem, as long as there are no reception places here.”
The judge sentenced the COA as a losing party to pay the costs of the eight tenants. It is a total amount of more than 5,400 euros.