Overview
- The city’s building authority formally declared the multifamily building in the Altländer Viertel uninhabitable and sealed it in the presence of police on Tuesday, September 8, with remaining residents moved into a municipal homeless shelter.
- City staff began the action after a resident asked at the end of August to be placed in a shelter and inspectors found black mold, a strong pungent smell, no running water and no heating in her apartment and in two others they checked.
- City councillor Carsten Brokelmann said officials banned use because the conditions were health‑endangering and 'inhumane,' citing lack of water and heating and visible black mold as the basis for the order.
- The Stadtverwaltung has opened coordination with the county and local police to draw up a concept to uncover and prevent 'Wohnraummissbrauch' (housing misuse), an effort described as ongoing.
- The action removes residents from immediate danger and raises next steps to watch for, including owner enforcement, compulsory repairs or legal proceedings and whether the probe will reveal illegal subletting or negligent maintenance as causes.