Am I entitled to a reduction in my rent if I will be affected by construction noise during the next 18-24 months?
There are four buildings directly surrounding mine which will be demolished and a brand new residencial complex built during the next years, starting this autumn.
Which are my rights/options in this scenario? I often work from home 2 days a week, and the windows face directly towards the area being rebuilt.
You might but the moment your protection period ends, highly likely your rental contract will be cancelled, especially if its a longer one with a really good rental price-
Well if you can get the developers to compensate you why not? If you have deep enough pockets get yourself a lawyer and have a go. And do let us know how it goes.
You are talking about 2 years construction - if the noise is such a deal breaker for you, your best option is probably just to move out (might take a few months to do, but in the context of 2 years still a win).
If you want, feel free to throw an offer to your landlord on top of that: reduce the rent and you will stay. Whether they will accept - up to them
Turns out, after speaking with the neighbours, that we are entitled to a small rent reduction.
Coincidentally, the landlord owns the whole street and we're the only building not part of the new complex. So, since it's the same landlord, he's well aware the nuisance he'll create for us and he's accepted a reduction.
That is how my friend was able to get a reduction, the same landlord was renovating the building attached to hers. It was a long renovation and caused extreme difficulties especially since workers were perched on her skylight window all day every day except Sunday. She also had difficulties working from home / taking meetings due to the very loud noise.
I don't see how you would get a reduction if the buildings aren't attached, but why not try?
Yes, you can request a rent reduction and most likely be granted. We have done it twice and our rent was reduced due to the road construction and another apartment building was demolished and rebuild. There were no consequences of us requiring it.
Yes you can, it’s quite common, and actually advised by the tenants association.
The first flat I rented in Zurich had this “by default” - i.e. in the contract I had a clause stating that they were building all around, and that the reduction in rent was already calculated.
I can’t remember figures, but I seem to recall 5-10% being the norm for disruptive construction work. This “reduction” is also a payment for your increased cleaning bills - construction work makes tons of dust that you will be breathing, eating, washing, etc…
In theory, the landlord can reclaim these costs from the construction company… but sometimes this means going to court… so you’ll find that it’s technically true that the landlord does not NEED to grant you a reduction. You could, in theory, send all the additional cleaning bills to the construction company, etc. This is a messy process, so usually you get a rent reduction and the landlord gets money back from the construction company to cover that reduction.