I don't know, maybe it's agency specific but that's what I can see in a new contract to sign. I was supposed to have a cellar compartment, use the washing facilities and bike storage. At first I thought that it would be silly to nitpick as probably the point is about special things like hobby room etc. but I looked at my current contract. I don't have cellar compartment with my current flat, but for the other things it's written that I have access (can use) all common building facilities and areas.
No, you're not paranoid. That's what contract are for, to be precise about silly things so that you don't worry about them.
You are being explicitly denied the use of communal spaces. While this is not an issue per se, it could lead to misunderstandings with your neighbors if what you are told is different from what they are told and what is written.
When I moved my draft contract was not mentioning the bike space and I asked to add it. In hindsight it could not have mattered less, but what if I use it and then someone complains and turns out that there is an extra fee to pay because there are shared tools - or whatever? I could not know before starting to live there.
Good that you asked in written. If it's not a mistake, calmly evaluate how much you care about; if it's a mistake, ask them for a new draft of the contract
No, well done. You refuse to sign a contract you don't understand, that's always a good thing.
The guy in the thread who wants the co-renter thrown out wishes he'd done what you are doing. Now that things have gone wrong he's (sadly) learning the hard way. Such stuff is much less likely to happen to you, simply because you read before you sign.
Well it's a bit strange situation. The reply was I'll have access to all that stuff but the contract is standard and cannot be changed.
It's a big block of flats, and a big agency. I came to a conclusion that they gave the same contract to all tenants, so I signed it. Yes worst case, I'll end up with having access only to my flat, not an end of the world, but an awkward situation which would mean it's time to seriously consider moving out.
Somewhat I wast still curious what kind of issues might arise from the points. I found these things discussed on https://www.promietrecht.de , which I guess is a German site, but with a common sense it should work the same here:
Common areas, especially stairs, lift, don’t have to be explicitly included in the contract but in such case the tenant is entitled to make only the essential use of them, i.e. walking through the hallway but not leaving any objects there, sitting there, throwing a party, etc.
Cellar compartment should be explicitly mentioned in the contract, if not it usually means it’s not possible to sub-let it but the tenant still have full rights to use it if an agreement existed. However it’s best to have a confirmation in any written form rather than verbal only.
That’s all fine to me. Looks like my contract was carefully crafted by lawyers to avoid any troubles with tenants “misusing” those spaces. Of course all that is only guess work, one should check with a local lawyer to be sure that it works like that in Switzerland.
When you view an apartment, it makes sense to ask to see these areas and clarify their use and access. Individuals cellars are usually assigned and lockable. Look for a number on the door. It definitely should be part of the rental contract.
Bike storage can be in many forms. Could be a locked room in the building, access with the main key to the building. Maybe there are bike racks, or not. Or it could be a covered area outside or near where cars park. It is possible bike storage is not part of the contract, unlike a motorbike or car parking space. If you own an expensive bike, you may want to keep it in your own apartment. This annoys building owners and managers but there's not much they can do about it unless you keep your bike in the hall outside your front door, or in the building rules it forbids taking your bike through common areas, like lifts or stairwells.
Laundry facilities are important and really need to be spelled out. Usually there is a wash key (so you can be billed for your use of the electricity) and possibly a schedule. There may also be a drying room. Often these rooms are locked. The use of these facilities should be included in the rental contract. In buildings where some larger apartments have their own washer/dryer, I have seen contracts where it is explicitly stated that these tenants cannot use the shared laundry facilities as they are only for the smaller apartments which do not have their own machines.
When you attend the handover it is possible these issues will be clarified but the handover is not a good time for unpleasant surprises so best to obtain clear answers in writing in advance.
That's definitely too late. One can as well assume the worst and only hope for the better. I got clarification by email before I signed. However my contract was not changed.
What to do about that, realistically? These days the corporations are bombarding us with lengthy agreements safeguarding their interests but for us it's either so-so unclear, or issues are completely hidden.
Well, in this case, I haven't seen a catastrophic outcome but having no access to all the common spaces would definitely diminish the value (the rent would appear too high IMHO).
Now, I ended with a strange wording in the contract but having a written clarification. Well, I like the apartment and the location so I took the chance. Written confirmation is a strong obligation but naturally a proper contract wording would clear out everything in the first place.