Home owners living in the vicinity of the Rikkers-Lubbers huis on the Heresingel in Groningen have filed a formal complaint about the international students staying in the building.
Translation by Traci White
The historic building is currently housing 56 international students, but neighbours in nearby homes are saying that they are fed up with the noise disturbances created by the young inhabitants. The residents have filed a complaint and are calling for the temporary residential zoning for the property to be revoked.
A spokesperson for the municipality of Groningen says that the only criteria for granting a permit for residential zoning is whether or not a building meets structural requirements. “We don’t make a decision based on who will be living there and whether or not they will cause a nuisance of any kind. That is up to the landlord.” The permit has not been revoked.
Former care home
The students have been living in the former care home for several weeks. According to the neighbours, the residents have loud parties and smoke in the back garden of the property. Truus van den Brink, the chairperson of the Home Owner’s Association in the neighbourhood, told Dagblad van het Noorden that the police have been called multiple times due to noise disturbances.
The building is owned by the Schove Groep, which also rents out a number of other properties in Groningen and is developing numerous residential projects in town. The group told the newspaper that they are unaware of any such complaints. StudentStay, the organisation which is responsible for maintenance and rent, also say that no issues have been brought to their attention. StudentStay also oversees housing for international students in Leeuwarden, Emmen and Meppel.
Photo source: Google Maps
