Series of burglaries in Favoriten: Tenant fights against dilapidated house!

Series of burglaries in Favoriten: Tenant fights against dilapidated house!

In Buchengasse 90 in Vienna/Favoriten, the issue of residential dilapidation has become an increasingly pressing problem for years. Homeless people have taken up residence in the building as residents fear for their safety. A tenant who has lived there for almost 50 years reports that conditions have become increasingly worse since the property was sold by real estate mogul Cakmak Umut. Her living situation was recently pleasantly disrupted when she was hit by burglars twice in just a short space of time. The perpetrators kicked open the old front door, which had not been able to close properly for months. After these incidents, a new metal door was finally installed, as MeinBezirk reports.

Also worrying is the role of the owner, who has so far paid little attention to the maintenance of the building. Police have been to the building a total of 13 times in the past six months, often for unauthorized entry. In addition, the building inspection became aware of the deficiencies and identified deficiencies, some of which have been remedied, but others which still exist. The owner has apparently ignored the situation so far and is waiting for a possible calming of the real estate market before investing in the properties.

City of Vienna strikes back against speculators

While the lifelong tenant no longer feels safe in her home, the City of Vienna is taking committed action against residential property speculation. Mayor Michael Ludwig and Housing Councilor Kathrin Gaál have presented a package of measures aimed at owners who deliberately let their houses fall into disrepair in order to encourage tenants to move out. A look at the current situation shows that there are a total of 140,000 houses in Vienna, 12 of which have currently been identified as acute speculative objects, according to Die Presse.

The new package of measures includes, among other things, the criminal prosecution of speculators who evict their tenants by turning off electricity and heating. Compulsory administrations are also increasingly being introduced for houses in which tenants are threatened or evicted. In this regard, four receivership proceedings are currently underway. The goal is clear: The city wants to enforce necessary maintenance work on neglected buildings under civil law and take rigorous action if owners do not meet their obligations.

Significant implications for tenants

Through these measures, the city will not only ensure that the affected buildings are repaired, but also provide targeted support to tenants. A comprehensive tenant assistance program is now offered, including personal on-site support, legal assistance and the organization of tenant meetings. The aim is to support tenants in this tense situation and to strengthen their rights. After all, the protection of tenants in combination with the fight against speculation should put an end to the decay of tenancies in Vienna, as can be read on wien.gv.at.

In summary, it is clear that both the city and the affected citizens are determined to take action against the grievances. It remains to be hoped that these measures will actually have an impact and can significantly improve safety and the quality of living in Vienna/Favoriten.