Berlin tenants abandoned for a week after burst pipe floods homes with mold

Residents are hauling buckets to flush toilets while mold spreads across their ruined floors. Why has no one fixed this yet?

, and Administrator

2026 February 10 . 7:03 AM

2 min read

The image shows a ceiling with a lot of dirt on it, indicating that it has been exposed to the... — The image shows a ceiling with a lot of dirt on it, indicating that it has been exposed to the elements for some time. The tiles on the ceiling appear to be in need of repair, as evidenced by the dirt and grime on the surface.

Berlin tenants abandoned for a week after burst pipe floods homes with mold

A burst pipe at 237 Friedrichstraße in Berlin has left tenants without running water for over a week. The problem began on February 4, 2026, when the building's hot water pipe ruptured, causing extensive damage to the floor decor. Residents now face mold, leaks, and no clear timeline for repairs.

The damage started with a burst radiator on the fifth floor, first reported to Deutsche Wohnen on December 12, 2025. Despite the early warning, no repairs were carried out due to access difficulties. By January 8, 2026, tenants noticed worsening leaks, dripping ceilings, and spreading mold on the floor decor.

Tenants were informed of the crisis through a handwritten note taped in the stairwell. The message confirmed the water shutoff but provided no estimated repair date. Since then, residents have had to rely on buckets to flush toilets and cannot use showers.

One tenant, Alex Müller, contacted both the local housing authority and the fire department for help. Neither intervention has yet resolved the situation. Vonovia, the property manager, confirmed the pipe rupture and apologised for the disruption. They also stated that affected tenants would receive full rent reductions if their flats became uninhabitable due to the floor decor damage.

The damage now spans from the fourth floor down to the ground floor on the building's left side. A bathroom in one apartment shows severe water damage, with visible mold and water still dripping from the ceiling.

As of February 10, 2026, no official reports detail the full impact on tenants' health or daily living conditions due to the floor decor issues. The water remains shut off, and repairs have not begun. Vonovia's promise of rent reductions depends on formal assessments of habitability.