Compensation for poor cleaning possible?

Questioner

We are a residents' committee of an apartment complex. The cleaning in our building has been below standard for years. This has been repeatedly raised with the landlord and an independent inspection has also confirmed several times that the cleaning is below standard. We have now asked the landlord for compensation for the past years. After all, we have paid, but not received anything. The housing association has refused us. Is there a possibility of getting compensation? If so, what would we have to do?

Lawyer

The question is whether the landlord was put in default in this way and whether the default occurred afterwards, or whether in the case of social housing the rent assessment committee was asked to intervene. Retroactively, a price reduction of six months can usually only be applied on certain conditions, and with the application of a good legal basis, but in any case for the future.

Questioner

I don't quite understand your answer. What does 'in the manner in which default has been made' mean? We submitted it to the rent assessment committee, but they could not help us. We were told that they were not authorised to make a ruling on this within the procedure. By the way, does this apply retroactively from the date the complaint was filed?

Lawyer

Pardon, I now understand that this is/are a free sector home(s). Have you demonstrably put the landlord in default, granted a term for improvement and mentioned a default date? Have you indicated afterwards that you are partially suspending the rent or applying a reduction? The price reduction applies after you have announced it after the default date. Afterwards it is very difficult to claim compensation certainly without legal knowledge and the conditions I mentioned.