Frustrations with Recent Apartment Rental - Seeking Advice

Accomodation, House and Garden
41
+1. This is the best advice so far.

42
Were the others there before you? Laundry rotation is generally based on seniority.

Tom

43

Might be just you have put them all off speaking with you Tom !!

44
+2 for the Mietverband. Take the original specifications you received and the contract with you. They will be able to advise if you have any recourse and will be able to help you write to the administration if so. Do this in the first instance.

I’m not surprised you are annoyed. I also have an induction hob so I see why this is important - though I also see, that for people not familiar/not really into cooking, they might not understand. But the laundry is crazy - there is no one in Switzerland who doesn’t understand what a big deal the laundry setup is. Advertising somewhere as having private facilities and then only providing access to shared facilities on a scheduled basis - no one would be ok with that.

45
I am seriously into cooking, my daughter is a chef, and I do not understand.

Induction only works with iron pans, not copper, aluminum, or stone, all of which I use at home.

Induction is BS. Gas is for serious stuff.

Tom

46
I agree with you that gas is best. But just not an option in many apartments. And where gas is not available, induction is still significantly better than ceramic. Sure you have to have compatible pans, but it’s worth it.

47
Do you believe I stand a chance of receiving some form of compensation in this situation? The dossier appears to be non-binding, and the contract doesn't include any clause guaranteeing exclusive use of the laundry facilities. I understand that I might seem inexperienced, but having grown up in a country where property ownership is the norm rather than renting, all of this is quite new to me. Unfortunately, I didn't have access to proper advice before finding myself in this predicament. I've already discussed the matter with the administrator, who seemed unaware of the situation and suggested I address it with the landlord directly. My plan is to draft a letter to the landlord and place it in his mailbox, considering he also resides in the same apartment building. Do you think this approach is reasonable?

48
I really have no idea what your chances are - but the mietverband will be able to advise based on the documentation, which you must take with you. I would not contact the landlord until you have advice from them.

49
Well I think you have your answer. You have cooking facilities and I suppose free to hang blackout blinds.

The other year I had to have a new cooker installed as the old one had an electrical problem (even though it was a gas oven). The new one doesn't have any electrics, no ignition and no oven lamp. I complained and was offered a 30CHF a month rent reduction. This was at the same time as an ownership change and I think I got very lucky.

[QUOTE]

I truly believed that the Swiss rental process would uphold high standards of transparency and fairness...

/QUOTE]

The expression that comes to mind is "bless your heart". My experience in Switzerland is that it's often difficult to think that not everyone is out to screw you over.

50
No.

Tom

51
I'm not going to replace my stone and copper pots, so no, it's not worth it.

Tom

52
Many commercial kitchens now only use induction.

Even in the US people are starting to convert to induction including the French Laundry in Napa Valley (3 Michelin stars).

As well as precise heat control, there's virtually no wasted heat energy unlike gas.

Lots of older people struggle to convert to new technology because they are set in their ways.

53
First, there's no rush. After talking to the administrator you can be sure that the message got to the landlord by now. Your letter will set the tone of the following conversations. Careful with its redaction. Get support from the Mieterverband and remember that brevity is your friend.

After a quick read of the thread, it's not clear who handled the rental process. The building administrator, the owner directly or a 3rd party real estate agent?

If there was a real estate agent involved and this person made some false claims about the apartment, this could be interesting for gossip. But, since there is a written contract whatever was told orally doesn't matter much. The landlord can simply tell what is on the contract is what you got . So, who made the claims about equipment which is not there?

I don't understand the motivation to install a ceramic cooktop when the price difference with an induction one is ~300 CHF. Maybe less for the landlord which might have access to better deals with home appliance dealers. This makes me think that the person offering the apartment was either an idiot or acting in a very unethical way. If the claims were made by an independent real estate agent, it could be simpler to negotiate with the landlord in good faith. If those claims were made by the landlord...be very careful.

54
Gas stoves are Nr.1, it's the "real thing", the problem is that I have seen only once or maybe twice an apartment/rental in CH with gas stoves so after that, induction is for me Nr.2.

However, to avoid being completely off-topic, I really doubt that the owner will grant you a rent reduction because you got a ceramic and not the induction one, esp. since we are talking about a brand new stove anyway.

55
Has anyone tried charging their toothbrush on an induction cooker? I guess the field strength is wrong and will probably fry the brush.

I am sure there is a market for a universal induction charger.

56
I don't think compensation or legal redress is likely here but maybe some careful and pleasant negotiation could result in a win-win if you play your cards right.

Is it possible to install an induction hob? If yes, how much would it cost?

How much would it cost to install your own washing facilities? Assume there is permission and space if other apartments already have them.

Once you have a figure for this work, you could negotiate a partial cost-share agreement if the landlord is open to it. Maybe s/he pays for the hob and you buy the washing machine so you can take it with you when you leave? Maybe he says no to the hob but yes to the washing machine? Etc...

There is a possibility the landlord could recover costs somehow from the agent if they were the ones who promised the earth and can be shown to have misled either intentionally or accidentally.

Strongly suggest being amenable and pleasant in all dealings with the landlord otherwise you are likely to get a swift rejection.

Yes definitely join Mieterverband and ask them for advice.

If you have legal insurance I suggest checking with them for their advice too.

Lastly, don't sign any contract in the future until you fully understand and agree with everything written in it!

57
OK, I understand venting, but seriously you have just rented the place. It's so easy to move on. If it's unacceptable move on, if you're just angry let it go and start living.

58
The important thing is to know, before discussing it with the regie, is what you want them to do to put it right.

Do you want them to replace the cooker?

Do you want a rent reduction?

Do you want outside stores installed?

Do you want them to provide blackout curtains?

Do you want exclusive access to the laundry, granting access to other tenants in an emergency.

Think hard of how they can put it right. Then discuss it with the housing association. They can advise you.

In my experience anyone that enters into a negotiation without knowing what they actually want, and where they are prepared to compromise, often loses.

59
I would advise you not to be discouraged by folks who are blaming you for having believed a non-binding document, and are minimising your feelings of being cheated and asking you to move on. Many of the forum veterans delight in showing others down and indulging in one upmanship ( you will know who I am talking about by looking at the groans this comment receives ).

Go to the tenants association - I am sure they will give you the right advice.

60
Out of curiosity, was the "dossier" from the company doing the renovation? And the actual rental from the people who bought the apartment?

Because often in these cases the first buyer can choose various options. The advert from the builder will always show the most luxurious option, and I would guess the average buy-to-rent landlord is going to choose the best price-to-rental market option, which isn't going to be the same thing.