An improper property Former brothel bought unaware
Ippendorf · The inconspicuous house at the Gudenauer Weg in Ippendorf was used as a brothel for years. This was kept from a woman, who bought the house. She feels duped and wants to have any information on the dubious reputation deleted from the internet.
The house has a small secret, which many people in Ippendorf were aware of, but not the woman who was considering the purchase when it was for sale in 2016. She also didn’t notice anything strange when viewing it. „I didn’t realize why there was an x-shaped thing leaning against the wall in the cellar, a „private“ sign on one of the rooms’ door, a CCTV system and no cooker in the kitchen“, says the owner now.
The house was used as a brothel for years, at least until 2015 apparently. Two rooms were used by prostitutes, and the kitchen was not used for preparing food but to cool sparkling wine for the guests. The former owner ran the brothel business from the living room. None of this was known to the new owner, when she signed the purchase contract in 2016. And it wouldn’t have mattered a lot, actually, said the former primary school teacher who now teaches German to budding carers for the elderly. „I fell in love with the property.“ Hence, a lot of renovation and restoration was done.
But when a friend of hers pointed out that there is online advertising for „Janas Haus“ under her very address, she got suspicious. She asked a neighbor who replied as a matter of course: „That the house used to be a brothel was a well known fact in Ippendorf.“ She did her own research then and found hints about the past of her house although the services had not longer been available for a while. Two weeks ago she received a letter to extend the trade licence and to look after the health of the ladies, it got too much for her.
The quizzical looks she got from people began to annoy her: „The people seem to be thinking that I am the new owner of the brothel, despite having nothing to do with this type of business. I am a very respectable person.“ The teacher who does not want to be recognised by name, is now irritated that the history of the 105 square meter house was kept from her. And she is looking for an IT expert to help her to delete the online advertising from the internet.
The phone number of the brothel does not exist any more. Because it all seems suspect to her and unknown men showed up at her doorstep, the single woman got a tenant to feel safer. Also, she installed a front door with a glass window so she can see visitors before opening the door. She mentions repetitional damage and sees her dignity affected. „That this was knowingly kept from me, I don’t like.“ The former owner told her that there was nothing in the internet to be deleted. And the estate agent also sees no possibility to help.
„It is a stupid situation, I can understand where the new owner is coming from“, he says but at the same time asks: „If the former use as a brothel is already a few years back, should this be mentioned officially during the sale?“ Nowadays this isn’t as big a deal anymore, he says. He claims he assumed the matter was discussed during personal conversations between seller and buyer, when he wasn’t present. The lawyers are working on the case. (Original text: Rolf Kleinfeld Translation: Mareike Graepel)
