Houses with a granny flat (Oma inbegriffen)

So when we finally get the full details of this suspiciously cheap enormous farmhouse with barn and outbuildings, we find buried away:


Hmm, there's an old woman living in the attic who would like to continue living out her retirement years there?

Does this often happen? Family sell family house, grandmother doesn't want to move, so they sell the house with her still living in it?

I don't begrudge her wanting to stay, but what if she had a fall ... or worse? Where would we get help? Who would we call? Could we understand her German enough to help her? Are we liable if she has an accident and, say, burns down the house? Not that I'm sayin that just because she's 86 she's senile and might leave the cooker on, but still, what about in ten, twenty years time ...

I think we'll walk away quickly from this one.

I heard a This American Life podcast that had a very similar story as this one. The man living there wasn't expected to live more than a year, but survived another two decades...

Is it in Bayern?

It is common (especially for farmers) to give the farm (including the house) to their children, but in exchange demand the right to live there for the rest of their live ("Nießbrauch"). Their right would be recorded in the "Grundbuch" (cadastral register). I dont think it´s common for the children to sell the house, while the mother is still living there. I would say: If this is an interesting offer depends on the floor plan and the price. If the old woman has her own appartement and the price they demand plus the value of her right to keep living there is fine - why not... She wouldnt be your family, just a neighbour. If she would become to frail to live alone, she probably would have to move into a nursing home.

On the other hand, if you are a caring person, you might get drawn into someones personal drama... In that case better leave the opportunity to some cold hearted germans.

No, Brandenburg.

I think Rainald Grebe's Brandenburg-Lied is accurate - everybody is leaving Brandenburg for Berlin, and some are leaving their grandparents behind!

Why not just adopt the old lady? It's quite a good chance to show your good samaritan nature.