Europe's largest housing company Vonovia is facing tenant dissatisfaction in a Cologne complex. Five employees met on a Friday afternoon in July with six residents in Nippes to address complaints. The issues mainly involve property management and technical defects.
Tenants in the residential complex had previously contacted Handelsblatt because they were dissatisfied with the management. Complaints include non-functioning shutters in many apartments and lack of hot water in some buildings. Communication with the property management is particularly criticized as catastrophic.
Vonovia demonstrated effort by sending the regional manager, customer service, a technician and a press spokesperson. The company plans to manage more properties from third parties to open up new growth areas. Such complaints hit a sensitive economic point.
Complaints are part of daily business for the DAX company, but the Cologne example highlights challenges in the expansion.
