Degewo has "forgotten" that it has installed 500 kg of asbestos per flat

Question 1:

Are the houses in the Wolliner Str. 27-33, Graunstr. 1-2 and Graunstr.7-8 housing estates owned by Degewo? How many flats are there in each of the residential complexes Wolliner Str. 27-33, Graunstr. 1-2 and Graunstr.7-8?

Answer to 1:

The residential buildings at Graunstr. 7-8 are owned by degewo and comprise 45 residential units. The residential buildings at Graunstr. 1-2 and Wolliner Str. 29-33 are owned by degewo Fonds 18 and comprise a total of 106 residential units.

Question 2:

Is it true that the houses in the Wolliner Str. 29-33, Graunstr. 1-2 and Graunstr. 7-8 housing estates were built by Degewo or its subsidiaries in the 1980s? In which years were the flats completed and let for the first time?

Answer to 2:

The apartment blocks Graunstr. 7 - 8 were built by degewo in 1978The residential buildings at Graunstr. 1-2 and Wolliner Str. 29-33 were completed and let in 1980.

Question 3:

How was the construction work documented at the time?

Answer to 3:

Documentation from the construction period is not available at degewo.

Question 4:

Where are the building documentation documents for the Wolliner Str. 29-33, Graunstr. 1-2 and Graunstr. 7-8 housing estates kept?

Answer to 4:

See answer to question 3. degewo does not have any construction documentation. The remaining building permit file is archived at degewo.

Question 5:

Is it clear from the construction documentation which building products were used in the new construction and refurbishment work? Which asbestos-containing building products or components are listed in the documentation?

Answer to 5:

Due to a lack of documentation, the building products used during the construction period are not visible.

Question 6:

In how many flats in the residential complexes Wolliner Str. 29-33, Graunstr. 1-2 and Graunstr. 7-8
where building products containing asbestos were used? Which buildings have building products containing asbestos on the outer skin?

Answer to 6:

At degewo, sampling of occupied flats is only carried out at the request of tenants or as part of maintenance measures. If a flat is terminated, a sample is also taken and, in the case of asbestos removal, the floor coverings are comprehensively renovated.

Degewo is not aware of the presence of asbestos-containing building products in the outer skin of the named properties.

Question 7:

How long has DEGEWO known that building products containing asbestos have been used in the residential complexes? Which components of the Wolliner Str. 27-33, Graunstr. 1-2 and Graunstr.7-8 residential complexes are contaminated with asbestos?

Answer to 7:

Since the beginning of 2013, existing asbestos-containing floor coverings have been removed when tenants change and, if present, asbestos-containing adhesive under the floor covering has been removed. The following components are suspected of containing asbestos: Flex panels including their adhesives (floor coverings), fibre cement pipes and panels (in outdoor areas).

Question 8:

When were the residents of the above-mentioned houses first and last informed about asbestos-containing building products in the buildings?

Reply to 8:

In 2012, a brochure provided information about possible asbestos contamination and explained how to handle any contaminated materials. A personal letter was sent to all tenants in 2013.

Question 9:

Since when does DEGEWO generally provide information about asbestos contamination in the tenancy agreements themselves when a tenancy agreement is concluded?

Answer to 9:

As degewo already checks whether the floor coverings are contaminated with asbestos when a flat becomes vacant and, if necessary, remediates them, no further information about possible asbestos contamination is provided when the tenancy agreement is concluded.

Question 10:

How many of the current tenancy agreements for the Wolliner Str. 27-33, Graunstr. 1-2 and Graunstr.7-8 residential complexes contain a clause referring to asbestos contamination, and how many do not?

Answer to 10:

The tenancy agreements for the residential buildings at Graunstr. 1-2, Graunstr. 7 - 8 and Wolliner Str. 29-33 do not contain any clauses on asbestos-containing building materials. Since 2013, the asbestos-containing flooring and any contaminated adhesive have been removed from the flats every time they are re-let. (Note: prior to 2013, tenants were left to their own devices by order of Frank Bielka & Co.?)

Question 11:

Have there been or are there any legal disputes between DEGEWO and individual tenants of the Wolliner Str. 27-33, Graunstr. 1-2 and Graunstr.7-8 housing estates that have involved or involve asbestos contamination? If so, how many and in which years? Did DEGEWO compensate the tenants appropriately in each case?

Reply to 11:

There are currently no legal disputes in connection with floor coverings containing asbestos in the residential buildings at Graunstr. 1-2 and Wolliner Str. 29-33.

In the residential building Graunstr. 7 - 8 there are currently a legal dispute with a tenant in connection with floor coverings containing asbestos, but there has not yet been a final judgement on this.

It should be noted that degewo does not keep statistics on legal disputes in previous years.

Question 12:

Will DEGEWO generally grant a rent reduction for all flats in the Wolliner Str. 27-33, Graunstr. 1-2 and Graunstr. 7-8 residential complexes that are contaminated with asbestos?

Answer to 12:

A fundamental Entitlement to rent reduction does not exist. A claim for a rent reduction can only be considered if the asbestos-containing floor covering is damaged. If damage to the floor covering is reported, it will be repaired immediately or the entire flat will be remediated.

Question 13:

What is the refurbishment schedule for all buildings in the Wolliner Str. 27-33, Graunstr. 1-2 and Graunstr. 7-8 housing estates for the complete removal of asbestos-containing building products?

Answer to 13:

In the residential buildings at Graunstr. 7 - 8, every flat that has been cancelled is sampled and, if contaminated, the flooring is fully remediated. If tenants request sampling, this will be carried out at short notice and, in the event of contamination, the damaged flooring will be repaired or even completely remediated.

The residential buildings at Graunstr. 1-2 and Wolliner Str. 29-33 will be renovated from summer 2019 to spring 2021. In this context, all asbestos-contaminated floor coverings will also be removed and replaced.

Question 14:

What is the average amount of asbestos-containing waste per flat recorded by DEGEWO during the refurbishment of the Wolliner Str. 27-33, Graunstr. 1-2 and Graunstr.7-8 housing estates?

Answer to 14:

On average, around 500 kg of asbestos-containing waste is recorded per flat.

Berlin, 23 September 2019 By proxy

Sebastian Scheel
Senate Department for Urban Development and Housing