However on the orange slip for the first month's rent, there's an "Forfait entrée" of 290 CHF. Considering it's a decent amount of money, I was wondering what exactly is this entry fee for?
I know they have to change the letter box + some other name plates but does that cost that much?
Not even close, 40-50 Fr tops for a couple of engraved nameplates
what i don't understand is why you ask here instead of asking the person who sent the bill????
surely life is full of minor queries that don't all need to be dumped on a forum?
Now, if you're not sure and don't trust yourself to read and understand all details of the contract, then a better course of action would be to email the company and ask them what the f**k the charge is for and where does the contract say you have to pay it
While the rental contract doesn't mention these, the form I applied with for the apartment has this on it:
So it's 200 + TVA administration fees (basically a "f**k you for making us work" fee) and 70 + TVA for the mailbox and other platelets.
As for the striking out part, thanks for the advice. I'll try doing it next time I'm less desperate .
I guess this time I'm fine being the sucker since I really wanted this apartment as it has nice benefits like being 10 minutes walk from my workplace and such
I looked at that crap and thought: is this a joke?
I called the local "tag-maker" (which happens to be the shoemaker) and he told me it costs 30-40chf (still ridiculous, but hey, it's 50% off already). So I told the landlord company I'd get the plates myself.
"You are not allowed!" - they almost screamed on the phone.
"Why not?"
"Because you might bring the wrong format! And it won't match the rest of the building!"
"I can assure you it will match. I will take the old ones with me, and do them in the same place you do them."
"ES IST VERBOTEN!"
That, ladies and gentlemen, was my first clue that something was rotten in the state of Den... Zürich.
Step 1 ) Get ASLOCA membership. (optional, but even a good idea when you do not do the following steps)
Step 2) Do not pay the bill
Step 3) Pay it into a special account with the local rental court.
Step 4) Go to arbitration
Step 5) Win, hopefully, and share your story
It is the very first time I hear about such a contract concluding fee. I do not know if it is legal and enforceable according to Swiss law, but it looks quit surprising, unusual, and onesided. I personally, because such a fee is so odd and out of the ordinary, would challenge it and bring it to the rental court.
There's freedom of contract, if laws don't forbid it it's generally allowed. So what you'll be paying lawyers and court to find out is if there any law which prohibits such a fee in this context. There's a fair chance there isn't and that you'd just waste a ton of money. There is a law that the tenant doesn't owe any fees except damages when moving out, but to the best of my knowledge nothing about concluding a contract
Does ASLOCA take on problems that existed before membership?
Right, pay what is is clear.
ASLOCA will at least be able to answer if this CHF 200 fee is normal and if they have already successfully challenged such a fee in the past.
Bit new and unfamiliar with things, the amount of time that would be spent with it plus time spent researching everything is worth more than that for me.
If it's an annual rental we pay for the Letter Box tag, about CHF 30 and for the doorbell, CHF 10. For the apartment door another CHF 20 for a plastic one. If it's a short term rental of 3 months we have generic tags which show the apartment number, so the tenants address would be:
John Smith
Apt. 123
Via xxx
1234 Town
Never been a problem and the admin company we use who handle about 800 buildings also never charge for the name tags. But that's me and it's Ticino, but when we once rented in Zug we never had to pay for the tags either. So I think it's quite unusual and I see no reason why you can't get them made yourself other than the management company looking to make a few extra francs!