More rights and a smaller area of responsibility Even closer

With the new housing allocation law, Berlin's tenants' councils have more rights and are responsible for smaller neighborhoods. This gives the representatives more options in their work, reports the Karlshorst tenants' council.

For a year now, Detlev Lezim, Hartmut Mikolajczak and Holger Sykulla have been representing the interests of the people in the district as the Karlshorst Tenants' Advisory Board. With a proactive approach and direct contact with the tenants and HOWOGE, the committee is committed to improving communication between tenants and landlords.

Closer thanks to new structureAfter the structure of Berlin's tenants' councils has fundamentally changed in recent months, the tenants' council can now work even more intensively on the concerns of the neighborhood. With the new housing allocation law, the area of responsibility was reduced from 13,000 residential units to 3,000 apartments. Detlev Lezim explains: "The change in structure has also changed our approach to work. We are now closer to the tenants because we don't have to travel as far." The reduction in size means that the tenants' council can respond more quickly to concerns and seek more direct contact with the tenants.

Approaching tenants as a core taskThe three representatives of the Karlshorst Tenants' Council attach great importance to personal contact with the people in the neighborhood. "We offer an open tenants' consultation hour once a month," explains Detlev Lezim. In addition, the three make an effort to approach the tenants personally. For example, when repairs are being carried out, they organize special tenant meetings to inform the tenants about what to expect. "This is how we also get into conversation about other topics," says Lezim. He knows from experience: "Many tenants' councils often wait for the tenants to come to them." But it is also important to find a way to reach tenants. Hartmut Mikolajczak even sees this as the core task of the committee: "It is our job from the very beginning to reach the tenants."

Tenants usually contact the council by email. The topics range from neighborhood conflicts to house rules and the maintenance of green spaces. "We respond very quickly and deal with every issue in a knowledgeable manner," explains Mikolajczak. Tenant councils are generally not allowed to give legal advice. Nevertheless, the representatives always look for a solution together with HOWOGE.

Mediating for tenants To achieve this,the tenants' council works closely with HOWOGE employees on site and in other districts. "We have had good experiences with the new structure. We receive immediate feedback on new construction or modernization measures," reports Holger Sykulla. Despite these positive experiences, there are always challenges, especially in communication. The tenants' council is committed to a trusting collaboration and tries to act as a mediator between the tenants and HOWOGE. "We have to clearly distinguish that we are not the executing force. We can only ever mediate."

Anyone who gets involved can change something.For this central task, the new Housing Supply Act grants the members of the tenants' council the right to obtain information, among other things. The representatives can also make suggestions and get involved. This is one more reason, according to the recommendation of the three interest groups, to get involved in the relevant tenants' council in your own neighborhood. "Anyone who wants to change something has to do something themselves," says Lezim. The members emphasize that volunteering on the tenants' council is a good way to actively improve the quality of living in your own neighborhood.