Junk real estate in Rhineland-Palatinate: Cities are fighting against decay!

Junk real estate in Rhineland-Palatinate: Cities are fighting against decay!

In Rhineland-Palatinate, more and more properties are being criticized. Junk properties and old houses not only make life difficult for residents, but also put a strain on the administration in the affected cities and communities. Loud SWR The neglected conditions are visible everywhere: mold, no running water and visual misery characterize the picture, both in cities such as Mainz, Koblenz and Landau as well as in the more rural regions.

Private landlords or real estate companies often bear responsibility, while cities and municipalities often have to watch helplessly. Measures to combat the conditions are usually only possible if the buildings pose a threat to public safety. But that often takes years. Many communities in the Westerwald district are confronted with the problem of empty junk properties that are increasingly falling apart.

Limited options for action by the authorities

Building inspectors can take protective measures such as closing windows and demarcating properties, but the demolition of such buildings often drags on indefinitely. As a rule, the owners have to bear the costs, but the public often suffers if they are insolvent, because then the taxpayers have to pay for the renovation.

There are many reasons why real estate falls into disrepair. Often the necessary financial resources for renovation are lacking, or there are disputes between communities of heirs. In Landau, for example, several listed houses are standing empty, while the city is drawing attention to the problem with the slogan “property is an obligation”. In Koblenz, action is being taken to combat the deterioration of the Mint Master's House, which was sold to an investor who did not renovate the building. A court case is already underway.

Crime in the shadow of old properties

A particularly shady aspect is criminal transactions in which owners take advantage of the emergency situations of people who have little chance on the housing market. Concerned neighbors often alert the authorities to problems. However, the fight against such machinations proves to be tough - long procedures and small fines are the rule. Head of the building department Andreas Lukas advocates a stubborn fight against these practices and emphasizes the importance of quick and effective countermeasures.

The Gammelhäuser not only represent a problem for the respective community, but also for social cohesion. It is all the more important that a rethinking takes place here at the political level and in civic spirit; because the consequences of decay are not only structural, but also social.

If you would like to find out more about the situation in the affected cities, you can find additional information here Google or through targeted research using local tags. The problem affects us all and requires joint action.