Ursula Kober-Becker, 83, trapped on the seventh floor – elevator broken!

Ursula Kober-Becker, 83, trapped on the seventh floor – elevator broken!

In the quiet community of Gröbenzell, a resident's concerns have become high. Ursula Kober-Becker, 83 years old, lives in a condominium on the seventh floor and is currently struggling with a massive technical problem: The elevator has been out of service since June 2, 2025 and is not expected to be put back into operation until July 11, 2025. This situation represents an almost unbearable challenge for the woman with walking difficulties and Parkinson's disease, as she is dependent on 24-hour help in order to cope with her everyday life. Merkur reports that the elevator needs to be extensively renovated due to its age, which puts the residents and especially Ursula in a tense situation.

While her husband Georg Becker, 82, would have liked an interim solution, such as a replacement elevator, the property management clearly signaled that this was not possible for security reasons. Georg Becker brought water into the apartment in boxes and considered renting a holiday apartment, although it remains unclear when the work will be completed.

The information gap

The property management had already made a decision to renovate in September 2024, but information about possible replacement solutions and a clear time frame were largely ignored. Georg Becker noted that the garbage chute had also been shut down. This means that he now has to go up and down the stairs himself to collect the rubbish - an additional burden for the elderly man.

On a similar note, tenants in other residential complexes also note that broken elevators and inadequate maintenance are a common problem. Recently, further inconveniences arose in a senior-friendly residential complex: the elevator failed several times, which posed challenges for the residents. A forum for tenancy law addresses similar complaints and the uncertainty about whether and how much rent reduction is appropriate in such cases.

Rent reduction as an option?

Tenants often have the opportunity to consider a rent reduction if there are persistent defects, such as a broken elevator. A template for rent reductions shows how residents can send official notices of defects to their landlords. The problem is often requested to be corrected in a timely manner and, if necessary, a percentage rent reduction is announced until the problem is corrected.

In Ursula and Georg Becker's situation, the elevator is crucial for their quality of life. Dealing with such circumstances represents a stress test that is both physical and emotional. It remains to be seen whether the property management will be able to respond promptly to the acute emergency. In any case, the tenant community should do everything in its power to stick together and find solutions in this difficult phase.