Mold drama in Porz: mother and daughter find a new home!

Mold drama in Porz: mother and daughter find a new home!

A new chapter begins for Anna Waldmeister and her daughter, who now live in their new, fresh home on Stammheimer Ring. Life on Wasserturmstrasse in Porz was a real nightmare for the two of them: black mold had spread there unnoticed and made the apartment an uninhabitable place. The causes were varied, including a defective ventilation system, inadequate window seals and several burst pipes. The reaction of the landlady was not very helpful, as she did not repair the damage and instead accused Woodruff of not ventilating properly, as ksta.de reports.

In this situation, Waldmeister had no further advice and turned to the housing authority of the city of Cologne. An appraisal was recommended, but she was unable to pay for it. Finally, in order to escape the threat of eviction, she stopped paying rent, which led to a lawsuit from the landlord, which was successful. That was the beginning of a difficult time for the family, which was further burdened by Woodruff's chronic illness. She currently receives citizen's benefit and has a Schufa entry, which didn't make finding a new apartment any easier. The fear of homelessness was omnipresent as there was no alternative housing in sight.

A solution is approaching

Based on recommendations from the SSM's social counseling service, Waldmeister placed her fate in the hands of the experts. Thanks to an attentive citizen, a vacant house was discovered that is owned by the city. The SSM teetered between the hope of finding a new place to live and the threat of eviction. A week before the actual eviction, Waldmeister received approval for the new home. However, in order to move in, the house first had to be renovated. This work lasted eight weeks, during which the family temporarily lived on air mattresses, as also reported by ksta.de.

The support from the SSM was crucial here: Rainer Kippe from the SSM and Waldmeister himself would especially like to thank Ms. Kerscher from the housing office and William Wolfgramm, the head of the environmental and real estate department, for their commitment to procuring the new accommodation.

Mold as a serious problem

But Waldmeister's case is not the only one in Cologne. Mold in homes is a common problem, especially in the winter months when moist air can permanently stagnate on ceilings, corners or window frames. Landlords generally have an obligation to remove mold, but disputes over responsibility often arise. Tenants must inform their landlord immediately about mold infestation in order to protect their rights, otherwise they may lose rights such as rent reduction, as zdfheute.de explains.

Damp rooms and inadequate ventilation and heating can contribute to the formation of mold. It is often controversial whether the tenant or the landlord is responsible for the problems. Each case is individual and often requires the involvement of a construction expert to clarify the causes in detail. It is important that tenants can prove that they have adequately ventilated and heated the property. The following applies: 10 to 15 minutes of shock ventilation twice a day can work wonders.

Overall, Anna Waldmeister's story shows how important good communication between tenants and landlords is in order to identify such problems at an early stage and find solutions together. The fate of the mother and daughter has changed for the better, but many similar cases are still waiting for a positive turn.