A dispute between tenants and landlords in Harsewinkel in the Gütersloh district ended in a fight.
One of the landlords, a 56-year-old man, was seriously injured and was taken to a hospital, a police spokesman reported on Monday.
First verbally, then with fists and kicks, a 40-year-old resident and three 17- to 19-year-old men attacked the man and his wife.
Harsewinkel - The 40-year-old was slightly injured.
Her and the three men, one of whom was also a tenant, were charged with dangerous bodily harm, threats and insults.
The 56-year-old also had to answer for bodily harm.
According to initial investigations, the dispute on Friday was about "rental disputes".
According to the spokesman, further details were initially unclear.
dpa