Your tenants' association for carefree living in legal matters – become a member and benefit from the advantages!
0221 20237-0
99, -Euro per year
Festive anniversary evening of the Cologne Tenants' Association at the Sport and Olympic Museum
On 24 April 2025, the Cologne Tenants' Association celebrated its 125th anniversary – an event that was celebrated with pride, a look back and confidence in the future at the Cologne Sports and Olympic Museum. Around 220 invited guests took part in the festive event. Among them was NRW State Minister Ina Scharrenbach, responsible for Home Affairs, Local Government, Building and Gender Equality. In her speech, she emphasised the importance of the association for the social balance in housing policy and stressed that – despite occasional differences in content – cooperation with the association is always constructive, fact-oriented and based on trust.
An evening full of music, history and community
The event was opened with music by the Cologne veteran ‘Klimpermännche’ Thomas Cüpper, who performed a song from 1930. The housing shortage of the time described in the song proved – unfortunately – to be frighteningly topical. The combination of musical nostalgia and socio-political statement made for a thought-provoking but atmospheric opening. This song, which had actually fallen into oblivion, had been tracked down by longstanding club member Heinrich Hammerschlag, who had previously spent several weeks searching the club's extensive archive for hidden treasures.
In his subsequent speech, association chairman Franz-Xaver Corneth emphasised the tenants' association's staying power, having tirelessly represented the rights of tenants in Cologne since 1900. The core of the association's work is legal advice: ‘But we also face up to the issues of our time – be it digitalisation, the changes brought about by artificial intelligence or the requirements for sustainable living. Nevertheless, despite all the technical progress, our human face remains the centrepiece of our work.’ Corneth also paid tribute to the many volunteers and full-time employees, without whose commitment the association would not be what it is today.
Commemorative publication, facts and a look into the future
One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of the commemorative publication, which was published especially for the anniversary under the academic direction of Cologne historian and cultural scientist Dr Ulrich Soénius. With great care and historical depth, the publication traces the development of the association – from its beginnings in the German Empire through the difficult period of National Socialism to the present day in the digital age.
The two managing directors of the tenants' association, Sarah Primus and Hans Jörg Depel, provided a special touch by moderating the event with exciting and unusual anecdotes and facts. Among other things, they reported on an unusual exchange of letters with a landlady in Auckland, New Zealand – probably the most distant tenant counselling service in the history of the association. It was also proudly mentioned that the counselling services can now be offered in eleven different languages - an important sign of diversity and integration in a growing city like Cologne.
An evening that unites
The St. Stephen's Youth Choir provided goosebump-inducing moments with their musical contributions, which not only put everyone in a good mood, but also provided thought-provoking nuances. The combination of tradition, social commitment and cultural programme made the evening something special. Many guests took the opportunity to talk to each other - about the past, present and future. Most of them stayed until long after the official end of the event.
In the end, the overall conclusion was positive: the Cologne Tenants' Association has shown that it can not only look back on an impressive history, but is also looking to the future with open eyes and an open heart - in the service of the tenants of the city and its surrounding area.