Any guidance is most appreciated
After almost 11 years in the same apartment, we have finally decided to move to a bigger place. Now the question is how much of the "endreinigung" am I really liable for? Naturally, there are wear and tears around the flat but nothing serious.
100%. Spotless. Zero dirt. Zero grit. Totally see-through. Indoors and outdoors. Regardless of how worn down the carpet might be, how much you have used up the stove. Or the toilet seat (no kidding).
Been to the army and had a Bad Drill Sergeant? Much cleaner than that.
After all, "Reinigung" really means "cleaning". Not renovation.
Alas, during hand over the subject of wear and tear might come up, lots of fun with discussions. And the "kleine Unterhalt" - so do check the lamps. The obligatory link to the Mieterverband has been posted often enough; they have a complete table with the useful of life of anything you might find in your flat. Be sure to be aware of that, as it will save you money.
Thanks- so the fact that we stayed here for 11 years has no baring at all then
Urban myth or truth:
Tenants have been blasted (financially) on moving out of a building that was about to be torn down, for lack of proper cleaning on hand-over.
Absolute, experienced truth:
The previous tenant of my current flat had hired a professional cleaning company to get it into the right shape for hand-over, after having lived there for a whopping sixteen years. That, although it had been very much decided and communicated across all parties that this impeccably cleaned whole flat would undergo a total, messy renovation effort (floors, walls, everything) the second after she had moved out and before I would be moving in.
Again, there is quite a difference between "clean" and "worn down" (or broken). By law and contractually you are expected to return the property in an intact, clean state. Whether you lived there for one day, or one year, or one decade is of zero interest, technically speaking.
You are expected to make any minor repairs ("kleiner Unterhalt") before you move out (actually - while you have been living in that property), so that only "normal" wear and tear distinguishes the property from being brand spanking new. This "normal" wear and tear will then be used as a yardstick to determine how much of your deposit you will eventually get back.
It's simply a matter principle, and the Swiss are pretty good at that.
You can try to negotiate with a human being in advance, but the default is to leave that property spotlessly.
Many years back now, but this is exactly what we did. We talked to a guy at Livit, who owned the flat, and said that to our mind it was idiotic for us (Mr. L's firm) to pay for a complete clean, only to have the painters etc. in afterwards. We must have been very convincing as they agreed. The cleaning firm agreed on the price so we left the flat 'surface clean', and after the work had been done, the cleaning firm came in and did their job. Since we got our deposit back, I presume it was to everyone's satisfaction.