“Your child is too small”: Family shocked by reason for refusal when looking for an apartment

Created: 2022-10-22Updated: 2022-10-22 7:08 p.m

By: Catherine Bromberger

Living space is becoming scarcer, also in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Some landlords also do not want to have small children.

(Iconic image) © IMAGO/BODE

The young family has been looking for an apartment in Garmisch-Partenkirchen for months.

The couple expected that it could be difficult – even if they earn well.

But not with the reason: Your child did not suit a landlord.

Not an isolated case.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen - Four rooms, if possible in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

With a small office for the husband and a small room for the son.

There isn't much of it on the market.

But exactly such an apartment became available.

The couple applied to the property manager – no response.

The young mother asked several times – no response.

Or she was put off.

over weeks.

Until she received the refusal on the phone, which annoyed and shocked the native of Garmisch-Partenkirch: "Your child is too small." The son is not yet a year old.

A child from ten to twelve years old, said the property manager, would be fine for the landlord.

"So unfortunately you're not an option."

Couple receives apartment cancellation in Garmisch-Partenkirchen - because of their small child

Now, months later, the three have found an apartment.

In December they move from Eschenlohe to Murnau, not to Garmisch-Partenkirchen as they had hoped, where the young woman comes from, where her family lives and where the couple wanted to live for various other reasons.

But they were happy to make the compromise.

For a “perfect” solution, says the woman.

With a “really nice landlord”.

Who likes children no matter how old they are.

But what happened to the couple during the search will not be forgotten.

Many families have similar experiences.

Her case also shows how tense the situation on the rental market really is.

Two criteria come together: a four-room apartment and a small child

In the case of this family, who does not want to read their name in the newspaper, there are only two criteria that apparently make it difficult to find a new home: They were looking for a four-room apartment in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which is in short supply anyway.

And they have a toddler, which obviously doesn't sit well with some.

They don't even bother with the two supposedly biggest problems.

"We're under no time pressure, we're doing well financially - that's very different from others," says the family man.

"They don't stand a chance." At the same time, everyone knows about the many apartments that are empty for most of the year.

The market must do something about this second home madness, he says.

However, their hands are largely tied.

The man works in the media industry - often from home, which is why he needs a separate office.

She works in the public service.

“We are in the fortunate position that money is not a problem,” confirms the woman.

For the child.

"So bitter." Like babies always cry and 12-year-olds never listen to loud music or slam doors.

She finds the rejection discriminatory.

But not before the law.

also read

After a train accident: catastrophic conditions were discovered on parts of the rails near Eschenlohe

In the middle of a residential area: construction site degenerates into a "mess" - community can not do much

(Our GAP newsletter keeps you up to date with all the important stories from your region. Sign up here.)

Legally, cancellation is apparently fine

Her husband contacted his legal expenses insurance after he had had the reason for the refusal confirmed in writing.

The landlord has nothing against children, he said in the mail.

However, the owner would prefer to give the apartment to a family with a child of at least ten years of age.

"And that's perfectly fine, too," says the Eschenloher annoyed.

In any case, the insurance expert told him: "You won't stand a chance." His wife published her experience in a Facebook group.

The reactions were shocking and sad at the same time.

Because what she and her husband had suspected anyway came true.

"We are by no means an isolated case."

Affected people describe their experiences online

Several mothers from the region described their experiences.

Apparently a realtor once told a woman that the owner didn't want to have children.

He's sorry.

"A few days later it turned out that the agent is the owner." Another woman could write "a whole book" about her experience.

"Single mother with child looking for an apartment: everything I had to listen to." Her personal two cancellation favorites - in a negative sense: With a child it is not possible to keep the peace in the house.

And: "I would have taken you with two dogs, but not with a child."

The Eschenloherin by choice and her husband left these statements stunned.

She kept asking around, learning of other families with similar stories.

Many don't even get an answer and, like them, have to investigate further to find out what's going wrong.

“Where should we go?” asks the young mother.

"Where is this family-friendly community?" The market was awarded as such.

What irony in the eyes of the native of Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

"Sounds great, gives a great image to the outside world." Apparently not everyone has internalized that.

You can find more current news from the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen at Merkur.de/Garmisch-Partenkirchen.