Gray hair in an elevator emergency: Retired couple fights for survival!

Gray hair in an elevator emergency: Retired couple fights for survival!

Ursula Kober-Becker is a brave 83-year-old who lives on a seventh floor in Gröbenzell. The elevator in her apartment building has been out of service since June 2, 2025 and is expected to remain closed until July 11, 2025. For the walking-impaired woman who suffers from Parkinson's and is dependent on support around the clock, this means a massive disruption to her everyday life Mercury reported. Her husband, Georg Becker (82), is also concerned and would have liked an interim solution, such as a replacement elevator. However, the property management has stated that alternative measures were not possible due to safety concerns and that every family had the right to participate in the planning.

The whole situation is extremely frustrating for the Becker family. During this time, Georg organized water in boxes while he considered renting a holiday apartment. However, information about the time frame of the work was missing, which increased the uncertainty. In addition to the elevator problem, the garbage chute was shut down, so Georg now has to carry the garbage up and down the stairs himself.

Legal aspects of rent reduction

In Germany, landlords are legally obliged to ensure that elevators are operational, as shown wohnora is explained. A long-term failure, as in this case, can certainly justify a rent reduction. While short-term disruptions are often tolerated, if the disruption lasts for more than a week, tenants are entitled to a reduction in rent. This is particularly true for older tenants and people with disabilities who rely on the elevator.

The possible rent reductions vary depending on the floor: In the event of a defect on the sixth floor, as was the case with Ursula Kober-Becker, up to 15 percent of the rent can be deducted. This shows how important a functioning elevator is to everyday life, especially in an aging society. In such cases, the tenants should definitely inform the landlord about the defect and set a deadline for rectification in order to assert their claims, as by tenancylaw.com is clearly shown.

Outlook for the renovation

The planned renovation of the elevator, which is necessary because it is 20 to 30 years old, has understandably caused concern among residents. The property management has taken measures to modernize the elevator; Nevertheless, the fact remains that the change represents a significant disruption to life for many. After a long period of time without a suitable solution, it seems time to address the short-term needs of residents.

The story of Ursula and Georg Becker clearly shows how important good communication between tenants and management is. While the construction work serves the long-term benefit, the well-being of the tenants must not be lost sight of. It remains to be hoped that those responsible will be made aware and that solutions will soon be found to make life easier for those affected.