Did I get scammed by the owner/gerance?

Accomodation, House and Garden
21
Why sad?

Tom

22
Don't be sad. I had to read “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” at least four times before I understood everything

23
1. Water leak issue. If the landlord is not fixing the water leak then I would pay for help from Ascolca.

2. All rents can be different even in the same building, it does not matter if the size ect are different. This is called a free Market in business terms.

3. Your rental contract has the monthly rent plus add on costs for heat, water...this amount is only part of the costs and can be considered a 'deposit' or partial payment, and do not represent your full cost/use.

You will receive a bill/statement from your landlord with the remaining amount you owe for the previous year (for example in Zurich area it comes in July*).

This cost is not small and should be expected and planned for. Even if you move to another apartment in a different town, you will owe the amount for the time you were living in the previous apt.

*for example: In 2022 I paid 200chf per month for heat and water ect. to the landlord along with rent due.

July 2023 I received a bill of 2000chf for the remaining 2022 heat bill.

The 2022 heat costs were double what the 2021 were. Another example of the free Market.

24

Contrary to what others have said, the initial rent is indeed regulated. The landlord cannot make excessive profit and it must be comparable with similar properties in the neighborhood. But there is a band in which the initial rent can fall. (There is no lower limit, but at some point it becomes a taxable gift.) You have the right to contest the rent within 30 days of taking over the apartment.

https://www.mieterverband.ch/mv/poli…tsraeumen.html

For the defect, use the sample letters and advice from Mieterverband:

https://www.mieterverband.ch/mv/miet…-schaeden.html

The above is in German, but deepl.com is your friend, and you might find similar information from ASLOCA in French: https://www.asloca.ch/

25
Not quite correct. There are some buildings where the rent is controlled, but in general landlords can charge what they want if the tenant is willing to pay. We get CHF250 less for a 35m2 flat than we do for an 85m2 (both with terraces). The main reason being our studio flats are in bigger demand.

The landlord is absolutely obliged to fix any defects, and if it's a new build then he would have recourse to builder under the warranty.