Fates of Bauskas Street building residents: some still paying mortgage, others left without housing
Following a gas explosion on January 2 this year at an apartment building on Bauskas Street 15 in Riga, several residents remain unable to return to their homes, while the Riga City Council denies responsibility for what happened in a municipal apartment. The deadline for temporary housing support for those affected is now approaching.
On January 2 this year, a gas explosion occurred at an apartment building at Bauskas Street 15 in Riga, leaving several residents without housing. Since then, some of them have been living in temporary accommodations, but this support period is coming to an end, leaving many uncertain about what comes next.
The Riga City Council has so far not taken responsibility for the incident, even though the explosion occurred in a municipally owned apartment. The situation draws parallels with a similar incident on Melnsila Street in 2020, which shares notable similarities.
Among those affected are people in various life situations — some continue paying off a mortgage for housing they can no longer live in, while others have been left completely without shelter. Latvian Television's program "Aizliegtais paņēmiens" (Forbidden Method) investigated the matter to find out how residents of the building are currently coping and what condition the damaged building is now in.
Unclear responsibility
The question of who bears responsibility for the explosion and its consequences remains unresolved. The municipality has not acknowledged fault or liability regarding the incident in the municipal apartment, creating additional uncertainty for the affected residents regarding compensation or assistance options.
Time pressure
With the deadline for temporary housing provision approaching, residents who lost their homes face an urgent need to find a solution to their living situation.
