New phase of life: Iris Weber leaves her apartment after 28 years

New phase of life: Iris Weber leaves her apartment after 28 years

In Kassel, the topic of housing shortages and the associated challenges are becoming increasingly pressing. A current case illustrates how fragile living conditions can be and what emotional and practical effects you have on affected people.

a dramatic farewell to the familiar environment

Iris Weber, a 57-year-old woman from Wolfsanger, is at the end of an almost thirty-year-old chapter. Your landlord had already terminated the tenancy in April 2022, a decision that means not only a move for Weber, but also the departure from her familiar living environment. "I have to be strong now," she says as she packs her belongings in boxes. The emotional weight is noticeable, because for many, as well as for Weber, your own home is an important support.

The background of the termination

The termination is based on a relieved right of termination for landlords, which in certain cases does not require any special reasons for termination. Usually a landlord has to prove that he has a legitimate interest in termination of the tenancy, but this is no longer necessary if it is an apartment in a building that is inhabited by himself that is not greater than two apartments.

The search for a new place to stay

The apartment mediations in the past few weeks have been challenging for Weber. With the termination in the back, many landlords met with skepticism because they had to assume that financial problems are the reason for their current situation. "They probably thought that the reason for the termination was that I would not have paid my rent," she explains.

At the moment, the situation looks like that it has been offered a social welfare office, but it is not only much smaller than her previous home, but also in a much more busy district: "This can only be an emergency solution for me," she says with regret and refers to her preference for calm and nature in Wolfsanger.

The role of housing protection in Kassel

Henrich Werhahn, a board member of the North Hesse Tenants' Association, indicates that such situations often occur in Kassel's suburbs. "In such cases, the tenants move into a very unprotected living relationship." He recommends that the possibility of relieved termination in rental contracts is excluded and advises tenants to legally check to be checked in order to be able to make a well -founded decision.

forced evacuation and their consequences

The problems related to living space in Kassel are not new. According to the central department of the social welfare office, 196 evacuations occurred last year, and in 2024 the city spokesman recalls 73 reports. The specialist office has the task of offering people in a precarious living situation, for example through mediations between tenants and landlords or emergency accommodation to avert homelessness.

This year there have been 16 accommodations that are due to evacuation, while the city is increasingly under pressure to create space for holiday apartments in view of the increasing demand, which further tightens the situation for regular tenants.

an outlook on the future

For Iris Weber, the hope remains that she will soon find an apartment in Wolfsanger again to regain the calm and nature that she appreciates. The challenges of which she faces are symptomatic of many people in similar living situations in Kassel. The struggle for affordable living space and healthy living conditions is gaining in importance and has the potential to change the social structure of the communities sustainably.

- Nag