Tennant in Mainz

My experience renting through Vonder in Mainz, Germany, was the worst I have ever had. The building is in a disgraceful, unsafe, and uninhabitable state, and Vonder not only ignored repeated complaints but also unlawfully rejected my 14-day withdrawal right under EU consumer law. The conditions were so appalling that simply living in the building felt like a health and safety risk every single day.

Common Areas – Extremely Hazardous and Unlivable:

From the moment I arrived, the common areas of the building were in shocking condition. Halls, staircases, elevators, and terraces were covered with trash bags, discarded furniture, food leftovers, and leaking waste. The smell of rotting garbage spread throughout the building, attracting flies and insects, and creating the constant risk of rodent infestations. Walking through the corridors was unpleasant and, at times, almost impossible because of the filth.

In addition to trash, there were ongoing construction works inside the building itself. Apartments all around mine were being renovated at the same time, with materials, tools, and debris left scattered in the hallways. Dust and fine particles were always in the air, making breathing difficult and dangerous, especially for anyone with allergies or respiratory problems. Since moving in, I personally suffered from continuous breathing issues caused by this environment.

The situation was not only unhygienic but also life-threatening. Staircases and emergency exits were blocked by piles of rubbish, broken furniture, and construction debris, making evacuation in case of fire or earthquake practically impossible. For a residential property, this is completely unacceptable — tenants are literally trapped by the negligence.

Noise levels were also intolerable. Construction works took place inside neighboring units on a daily basis, and since there is no sound insulation in the building, the noise in my apartment was as loud as in the construction sites themselves. It was impossible to rest or work. Adding to this, some tenants left their doors open, played loud music, and even kept birds, which created further unbearable noise pollution.

Security was another major concern. The main entrance of the building, as well as the secondary entrance to Block A, were left open most of the time. Construction workers and outsiders had unrestricted access to the property. On top of this, the smell of narcotics was often present in the hallways, leaving me feeling unsafe in my own building.

Even the basic facilities were unusable. The elevator broke down frequently, forcing tenants to use filthy staircases piled with trash. The laundry center was in such a state of dirt and disrepair that it was impossible to use, despite being advertised as part of the rental arrangement. The mailboxes were broken and insecure, with mine left permanently open and filled with other people’s mail.

Taken together, the state of the common areas made the building completely unfit for habitation. Tenants were forced to live in conditions that are unsanitary, unsafe, and degrading.

Apartment Defects:

The apartment itself also had multiple problems. The bathroom light was not working when I moved in, and two of the lamps were unusable because of the lack of sockets on that wall. There were no shelves or even a toilet paper holder in the bathroom. The freezer in the kitchen could not be opened due to faulty design, and the kitchen lacked basic equipment such as cups. Furnishings were incomplete, with no bins other than a small bathroom one and no cleaning equipment at all.

Hygiene on arrival was unacceptable: dirty dish rack, food residue in drawers, a smelly refrigerator, an unclean microwave, and cutlery and dishes that had not been properly washed. The bed frame and walls had visible stains, and there was even a ball of hair on the shower hose.

Many of these issues were only fixed after I explicitly requested them.

Conclusion

The only positive aspect of my stay was communication with the local community manager, who was polite, responsive, and genuinely tried to help within her limits. Unfortunately, her efforts could not compensate for the sheer neglect of Vonder’s management.

Overall, this was an appalling and dangerous rental experience. Vonder knowingly rents out apartments in a building that is unsafe, filthy, and uninhabitable, while denying tenants their legal rights. This company shows a complete disregard for health, safety, and consumer protection. I strongly warn anyone against renting with Vonder.

I rented an apartment in Mainz, Germany through HousingAnywhere, and the experience has been unacceptable on every level. After raising multiple serious complaints, I was told that I am not protected under their Terms and Conditions, and they still forwarded my first month’s rent to the landlord.

This was their explanation for refusing to return the rent:

HousingAnywhere stated that cleanliness and hygiene issues in the common areas is not a valid reason for a refund. Since the apartment itself was not considered “misrepresented” under their Terms and Conditions, they claimed they were obliged to release the first month’s rent to the landlord.

The problems in the building were reported to HousingAnywhere and to the landlord(Vonder), but nothing was rectified. Even more concerning, HousingAnywhere continues to offer apartments in this very same building, despite being fully aware of the situation.

Major Issues Reported:

Unhygienic conditions: All halls, corridors, staircases, elevators, and terraces were full of trash bags, discarded furniture, and leaking waste. The smell was overwhelming, insects were present, and the presence of decaying food posed a serious health hazard.

Construction debris inside the building: Ongoing works took place inside neighboring apartments, leaving dust, tools, and debris in common areas. The air was constantly filled with particles, making it dangerous for anyone with allergies or respiratory issues.

Blocked evacuation routes: Staircases, corridors, and even emergency exits were obstructed by trash and construction materials, making evacuation impossible in the event of a fire or earthquake.

Excessive noise: With daily construction and no sound insulation, the noise inside my apartment was unbearable. Other tenants added to the noise by playing loud music and keeping birds with open doors.

Lack of security: Entrances to the building were often left open, giving unrestricted public access. The smell of narcotics in the common areas was frequent.

Elevator failures: The elevator frequently did not work, forcing tenants to use unhygienic staircases.

Laundry center unusable: Although advertised, the laundry facilities were so unhygienic they could not be used.

Broken mailboxes: My mailbox was insecure and permanently open, filled with other tenants’ mail.

These are not minor inconveniences — they are serious health and safety hazards. The combination of accumulated waste, construction, blocked passageways, and lack of security makes the building uninhabitable.

The issues in this building are well documented and widely reported in the German press.

Conclusion

HousingAnywhere failed to protect me as a tenant, dismissed my complaints with a technical reading of their Terms and Conditions, and still released my rent to the landlord despite the property being unsafe and uninhabitable. What makes the situation even worse is that they continue to list apartments in the same building, knowingly putting future tenants at the same risk.

A platform that markets itself as professional and trustworthy should uphold higher standards of accountability. In this case, tenants are left entirely without protection, while HousingAnywhere continues to profit.