Immobilien: Mit diesen Tricks verdrängen Eigentümer ihre Mieter

In Frankfurt, a unique municipal institution called the Stabsstelle Mieterschutz has been protecting tenants from eviction for over a decade. Jurist Kai Schönbach, who heads the Mieterschutz department, works on the 12th floor of the Frankfurt Housing Office, overlooking the cityscape. His job involves advising households threatened with eviction due to rising rents, renovations, or conversions, as well as mediating between tenants and landlords.

The demand for tenant protection has grown in German cities, where some landlords push tenants out to increase rents or sell the properties at a profit. Schönbach, who previously ran a tenant rights law firm, uses various methods to help tenants resist eviction, including free advice and mediation services.

In 2013, two real estate investors purchased a ten-aptitude building in Frankfurt's Ostend district, intending to renovate and upscale it. To drive out the tenants, they left the building under renovation for years, causing damage to the communal areas and appliances. This led to water damage in several apartments and unjustified evictions. The case dragged on for nearly six years before the tenants left in February 2019.

In response, Frankfurt's city council established the Mieterschutz Stabsstelle in 2013 to prevent similar situations. The department has four employees, all qualified lawyers, who offer free consultations to tenants over the phone or email, and hold monthly open hours and special events in various neighborhoods. They also participate in meetings with tenants during major construction projects and provide support during tenant assemblies and city festivals.

However, the Stabsstelle cannot represent tenants in court or write letters on their behalf. Instead, Mieterschutz associations and legal professionals step in for legal representation. While there was initial concern about competition with tenant associations, the two entities now work closely together, with the association handling individual tenant representation and the Stabsstelle addressing broader issues like unlawful renovations and mass evictions.