Erfurt (dpa/th) - In the energy crisis in Thuringia, nobody should be left out in the cold through no fault of their own or lose their apartment because of payment problems. This commitment was made in a joint statement signed on Wednesday in Erfurt by Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow (left) and representatives of the tenants' association, the housing industry and municipal companies. It is about drawing attention to a large number of existing information and advice offers in order to solve problems, said Ramelow.
The state can help the housing and utility companies to prevent liquidity problems with guarantees. In individual cases, families in need through no fault of their own can be helped via the state’s hardship fund. "We can control everything that comes with the energy price explosion," said the head of government. The agreement should be a signal that the four partners wanted to act together in the crisis. "No one should be afraid," said Thuringia's head of government.
The managing director of the housing industry association, Frank Emrich, advised households with payment problems to first contact their energy supplier and their landlord. Possibilities for help could be examined. It is also possible to use the extended housing benefit regulations. Among other things, it is new to receive housing benefit as a one-off social benefit.
The joint declaration is intended to give the tenants, some of whom were worried about their apartment, more security, said Georg Seidler from the Thuringian Tenants' Association. "There are offers of help." He referred to many websites with information from the federal and state governments.
