New build - GWG München

16
The Körper family in their old apartment ...
What help did you get from GWG München?
Manfred Körper: They supported us in many things, for example
with the approval procedure, with the housing authority,
and in lots of personal meetings.
Roswitha Kirchmayr: Mr. Bauer will organise the move, should
you be wanting a removal company. If the tenants wish to do
the move themselves, they will receive 500 euros upon return
of the old apartment. If any furnishings need altering, we will
send a joiner.
Fredi Bauer: Not only that, but all supply points are taken care
of by our firms, for example for a washing machine, dishwasher,
etc.
We are in the former kitchen/living room of the Körper family’s
previous apartment. It has panelled walls and a corner bench
facing the sideboard. On the table is a map of the city.
Manfred Körper points at a street on the map, saying, “that’s
where we’re moving to, a ground floor apartment.” Then
turning to his wife, “your mother lives here.” Brigitte Körper
nods, “I could grow old in that apartment. We took one look
and knew that was the one.”
Even if you move, the memories remain.
Brigitte Körper: Of course. I was born in this apartment and I
grew up here. My grandmother lived here and so did my
mother, and now we live here. Which is why we want to stay
nearby and with GWG, because it has all been such a positive
thing living here.
You could say it was your house ...
Brigitte Körper: ... Yes, I suppose you could. My son also rents
his apartment from the GWG. His opinion on tenant care is
just the same as ours and he would never move into another
area. We have green spaces, a shopping centre, the underground.
We don’t really need a car.
Manfred Körper: Another nice thing about the new apartment
is that it also has a garden.
Do you look after the garden yourselves?
Manfred Körper: We have a big lawn with some tall trees, but
we are don’t intend to make any more flowerbeds.
… but you used to have them?
Brigitte Körper: Of course, we had to share the garden with
three other tenants, but at some point the others lost interest
in the garden because they were either too old or didn’t have
the time.
So we paid a little more rent, and bit by bit we increased
the size of our garden. We hardly needed to go on holiday
anymore.
Manfred Körper: We came back from town, went into the
garden, set up the barbecue and relaxed.
Brigitte Körper: It was idyllic!
What is the sense of community like in the neighbourhood?
Brigitte Körper: It is good but it used to be a lot stronger. It
was like we were all one big family. The one neighbour knew
if the other was ill and would go round to check on him and
bring him what he needed. But that has changed. Many have
moved away or died. We are the last ones. Young people
don’t want to live in such an old building.
Manfred Körper: The young ones used the old estate as a
springboard. They moved into a cheap apartment, got
married, and then looked for somewhere bigger.
Brigitte Körper: But there are still a few old tenants, like my
mother for example, who is 83. And now we are part of the
old group. If we can move into another building that is just as
wonderful, then we will have reason to be pleased.