Rent increase due to failed upgrade

Accomodation, House and Garden
1
Greetings fellow travelers! This is my first post. I live in an apartment that is heated by wood stove, which I love, and works well for me for the past 2 years. My landlords just finished installing a new heating system (Warmepumpe) and now they want to increase my rent by 125/month. However, the system doesn't work well: they only installed 4 radiators in a 95 m^2 area, and the house is old and drafty. I need to operate the wood stove anyway to keep the place warm enough.

Is CHF 125 a reasonable amount to increase the rent? It seems like a lot to me for something which barely works.

I suggested that we try to do temperature measurements with the Warmepumpe system on and off to see how well it works, which they categorically rejected. I guess that part is a Swiss pride thing that I don't understand

2
Heat pump + radiators only + old poor insulated building = winter misery.

Heat pumps will only put 30 - 40°C water through your radiators. With underfloor this is no problem.

What do there’s in the building think?

By the way wood burning is not the best environmentally...

3
@AbFab

Unfortunately I'm the only tenant so that's why I don't know. The landlords live on the ground floor and it seems to be much warmer down there close to the ground.

I do still have the wood stove to keep things warm. But then why should I pay for the Warmepumpe?

Burning wood is at least (mostly) carbon-neutral in the long run...

4
Cost me over 80k to replace oil with a heatpump. Using existing radiators. 125/month doesn’t seem too bad now eh?

Heatpumps can put out a bit more than that but they become less efficient. More radiators, sealed gaps in windows and change window glass might all be required.

5
@DL21

80k...

They already said they don't plan to invest any more in fixing the insulation, so it looks like I'm stuck with it as is.

I guess the question is, how should I measure the value of the Warmepumpe? From one perspective 125/month is not much, but the other view is that there is little added benefit for me. Besides, the better the Warmepumpe works, the less they will pay for my firewood.

6
Contact your local mieterverband .

7
@Urs Max

Yes thanks, I am already doing that but I was just wondering what people think about the cost.

Is 100/month generally considered a small increase or a large increase after a repair?

8
If the new heating system is inadequate to heat the apartment compared to what you had before, I'd argue the landlord introduced a defect in the apartment ( https://www.gerichte-zh.ch/themen/mi...he/mangel.html ) and you actually should request a *discount* on rent until they fix the heating to provide at least its original capacity. Of course, they'll deny it, but you can fight it out in a Schlichtungsbehoerde and get the discount anyway (or at very least no increase in rent), consult with Mieterverband how to best proceed and on the formalities.

It's an infinitely large increase - repairs don't entitle landlords to increase rent. Only improvements, and then it depends on the amount of capital investment - do ask how they came up with the number and justifying this increase, it's your right. You don't have to guess how much they spent on Warmepumpe, just straight up ask to see the bills.

9
I presume you have an annual contract? In this case any rental increase can only take place on the renewal.

I'm also not sure if they can put the rent up due to improvements. I've improved several flats while the tenant was there. One we completely repainted and fitted a new kitchen while he was on holiday (with his ok of course) and never increased the rent.

If you live in the same house as the landlord I can understand things can be awkward if you have to see each other every day. They are offended you don't agree and you are unhappy with the increase!! They may even terminate the contract at it's renewal if you don't agree (they must give the proper notice though).

I'd suggest taking advice and/or maybe negotiating with them.

10
If you are not already a member of the renters association, you should join.

11
I agree that the rich are too rich and the poor are too poor. And I think it would be a better world if we distributed the wealth within it a little more fairly.

But you know draft excluding tape costs about 10CHF a box, so go and get some and fix the windows. If you got drafts under the doors that plug it with stuffed toy snake, like they used to do in the 18th century.

More expensive, but effective--get some heavy curtains and use them too, they will keep the place warmer in the winter and at night.

Get some silver backed card and place it behind the radiators to reflect the heat back into the room.

Tell yourself it is an investment in the planet, for your kids future and your well being. Don't ask your landlord to pay for it, just do it. Make your life life easier, warmer, less hassle. You cannot take your money to your death bed and we all only live once.

I know it isn't your place, but your living there, so make the most of it.

As for the rent increase, heat pumps are very expensive, but they also good for the environment and your landlord is within their rights to ask you to help pay for the update. I it has for sure cost him/her 1000 more than they are asking you to pay.