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Looking for an apartment in Duisburg: Single parents fight against landlords!
Single parents in Duisburg are fighting for living space: Experts give tips on finding accommodation and legal aspects.
Looking for an apartment in Duisburg: Single parents fight against landlords!
Duisburg.Single mothers in Duisburg are faced with an almost insurmountable obstacle: looking for an apartment! At a network meeting, twelve mothers reported how they have to fight against discrimination by landlords. “We generally don’t rent to single parents,” one mother was told straight to her face. A shock that sums up the reality for many single parents!
The housing market situation in Duisburg is tense, and the experts know that. Dennis Ifkovitz from the Duisburg Housing Association (GEBAG) warns: “You may have to wait three years for a four-room apartment in Duissern or Neudorf.” Housing subsidies are not designed to meet the needs of single parents, which makes finding a suitable home even more difficult. An example: A three-room apartment of only 60 square meters is ideal for a parent with a child, but for a residence permit you need at least 73 square meters!
Mold and Holes: The Bitter Reality
The situation becomes even more dramatic when you consider the living conditions of the affected mothers. Amine, who raises six children alone, shows horrifying images of her apartment: black moldy walls, damp ceilings and holes through which mice come and go. “This is untenable!” Ifkovitz exclaims in horror. He advises Amine not to give up the apartment until she has found a new one. Another slap in the face for single parents!
The mothers receive valuable tips on tenancy law so that they can better enforce their rights. Ifkovitz warns: "Don't rely on verbal promises! Document everything in writing!" An important tip that many women learn too late. And for those who want to add a new partner to the rental agreement, there is also a warning: “He has the same rights as you from day one!”
The women are grateful for the exchange and support, but the uncertainty remains. Co-organizer Angelika Fröhling from the citizens' platform DUaktiv cannot yet say whether there will be further meetings. “That depends on the announced funding cuts,” she explains. The future for single parents in Duisburg remains uncertain!