Symbol photo source: Adobe Stock
The next Degewo asbestos scandal is uncovered just in time for the new year. The BZ writes in its current issue of 30.12.2020:
"This refurbishment is HELL"
Degewo tenants at Stettiner Str. 21 have been inconvenienced by construction work for seven years
"Tenants in Gesundbrunnen have been inconvenienced by construction work for SEVEN YEARS"
"Dust, noise and dirt: the refurbishment of Stettiner Strasse 21 in Gesundbrunnen is driving tenants to the brink of despair. Their complaint: "Degewo is letting us down."
(Degewo tenants at Stettiner Str. 21 are left alone, which is apparently common practice at Degewo in Berlin. ARD Kontraste magazine reported on another case in Berlin at the beginning of 2020 "Asbestos hazard: How tenants are left alone")
"What is it about? The lower three floors of the building have been undergoing refurbishment for 7 (!) years. They belong to the Kindergarten City (KG City). The work was extended to the Degewo maisonette flats above due to fire safety renovations. This affected 16 tenants."
"Asbestos pipes were also removed during this pipework renovation."
Degewo tenants are being left in the lurch
"There was no protection, neither for the workers nor for us," said one resident, who called the State Office for Occupational Safety, Health and Technical Safety and the police because of the large amount of dust."
"Degewo, a state-owned housing construction company, sees things differently. In response to a B.Z. enquiry, it wrote that the procedure for the asbestos pipes was "classified as proper"."
(It is also proper for Degewo to grant tenants permission to completely refurbish an asbestos flat without having to pay attention to the Asbestos danger to point out. This has long been a tradition at Degewo. Degewo tenants get the short end of the stick at Degewo)
"There were no replacement flats for the tenants during the entire construction period - although work was carried out in the kitchens and bathrooms"
"The company confirmed this, but pointed out that sanitary containers were set up in front of the building and a bathroom was available on the 5th floor. According to the tenants, however, this was in a disastrous condition."
(Degewo tenants at Stettiner Str. 21 have to make do with a sanitary container and a shared bathroom on the 5th floor. At Degewo, luxury is only for Degewo board members, Degewo Supervisory Board members and their henchmen)
Degewo tenants at Stettiner Str. 21 had nosebleeds
(Degewo provides tenants with sanitary containers and a shared bathroom on the 5th floor, and describes this as proper)
"The dust also caused problems: "We had nosebleeds," one tenant told B.Z. "I have to change the bed linen every day. It's hell."
(Perhaps Degewo supervisory board members like Sebastian Scheel and Frank Bielka live in a flat like this until your nose bleeds. Maybe then something would change at Degewo)
"In addition, there were repeated power and water failures, lifts were broken and kitchens were unusable." The string renovation has now been completed, but the noise pollution remains: Because work is still being carried out on the lower floors."
"Some tenants have now hired a lawyer. Among other things, they are demanding a higher rent reduction. So far, they've received between 20 and 50 per cent - but only for about two months!"
(Degewo has always been generous (cynicism), we have been given minus 10,000 euros (which we have to pay for). Complete refurbishment of our asbestos flat invested) and simply put our lives at risk. Degewo tenants have no rights. Degewo + supervisory board members + judges are probably all cuddling under the same blanket)
Background information on the article
Source: BZ Berlin print edition of 30.12.2020. Our comment in ()
Germany is no longer what it used to be.