We are the tenants of Boxhagener Straße 32 in Berlin, Friedrichshain.
Our house was sold through a Luxembourg shell company to a mutual fund in the Cayman Islands – a notorious tax haven. Our home is located in one of the most desirable neighborhoods for investors. It is an area that is targetted by speculative investors. Since the house is not yet luxury renovated, we fear a forced refurbishment and/or conversion to condominiums. Such actions would likely see our rents skyrocket and force many of the curent occupiers into abject poverty should they wish to continue to reside in their home.
We are a colorful mix of typical neighborhood residents – with no high earners who can afford expensive refurbished rental or condominiums.
Because our house is located in a Millieuschutzgebiet “Boxhagener Platz”, the district Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg is currently examining whether it can exercise the right of first refusal. For this, no later than 20.05.2019 a buyer must be found who is ready to buy the house and to commit to social preservation. Potential state approved buyers include:
- An urban housing company
- A cooperative
- A charitable foundation
- (One) private financier (s) with a social conscience
We also need the moral and political support of other tenant initiatives, the Berlin state and federal policies, to prevent our living space from being turned into an investment property for anonymous investors. We don´t want to be driven out of our beloved neighborhood.
