The economic consequences of the Corona crisis also affect tenants and landlords in the district. We spoke to representatives of the two parties.
Landkreis - "People always find a reason to argue," says Georg Werkmeister, board member of the Weilheim tenant association and lawyer. Everyday business continues - but there are new problems, which he deals with as a legal advisor to the tenants' association. Corona-related problems. "Things are only just starting - but the problem of rent will have an impact on the relationship between the tenant and the landlord," Werkmeister is certain.
If it can be proven that tenants can no longer pay the rent in full due to the corona pandemic, for example because they only receive short-time work, they must not be terminated. However, the rent arrears later have to be paid interest.
Problems for tenants with a strained relationship with the landlord
The federal government's so-called moratorium on rents could be particularly expensive for tenants who have a strained relationship with the landlord, ”says Werkmeister. If the landlord suspects that the payment will not work as planned, he can title the open rent. Then additional costs would arise for the tenant.
Georg Werkmeister would therefore have found it better to set up a fund to support tenants instead of the new law. That would also have been a better solution for landlords, he believes. Because the current solution could "pull a rat tail after it". This means: “If the landlord is dependent on the rent, for example because he has to pay off a loan from the bank, it can be problematic for him if this income ceases. Then it depends on how the bank reacts to it and so on ... "
Because of Corona: problems with moving
Georg Werkmeister is currently primarily dealing with questions from tenants who actually wanted to move and who are unable to do so due to the Corona crisis - even if it were actually allowed.
For example, Werkmeister reports about a man who was temporarily canceled by a moving company from Austria. "He cannot go to the new apartment - but has actually already quit the old one," says Werkmeister. The same applies to a family whose house construction is delayed due to the pandemic.
"It is important that the tenants contact their landlord as soon as possible and explain the situation to him," says Werkmeister. Because it is an indispensable event for which none of the participants can help, the tenants could not be sued. However, the man now has to pay two rents, for example: for the old and the new apartment.
Ideally: tenants and landlords agree on a compromise
The ideal scenario would be that tenants and landlords talk to each other and find compromises for the Corona period themselves. "I clearly recommend that," says Werkmeister. However, the reality is often different.
The Schongau local association Haus und Grund, which has around 620 landlords, is still relatively quiet. "So far, only one member has contacted us with a question regarding the corona crisis," says the first board member, Josef Hutter.
“His tenant had announced that he would now only pay 50 percent of the monthly rent. Of course that is not allowed, ”says Hutter.
Landlords rely on rental income
Many landlords have themselves run into financial difficulties, such as traders or craftsmen who have had to close their shops or who are losing their contracts. And yet even landlords who are in need would try to support their tenants, according to a press release from the tenants' association.
"Each case is an individual case and must be looked at individually," says Hutter. However, one thing is clear to him: "There is no rent." That was not feasible. In addition, the tenants are secured by the federal government's moratorium on rents - so far, however, there has been no financial support for landlords. "That must not be tilted."
You can find all the developments related to the corona virus in the Weilheim-Schongau district in our news ticker.
Also read: The district is breaking new ground: A small “vacation committee” takes over the daily political business instead of the 60-member district day in the Corona crisis.
Also interesting: there is now a special corona test station for children: a Bundeswehr tent has been set up in the courtyard of a pediatrician in Schongau.
Rubric list picture: © dpa / Tobias Hase (symbol picture)