I would like to ask for advice here on what I can do with the following situation.
I will officially leave Switzerland by beginning of next year, I am practically almost gone. working from home and with a verbal agreement already from next year to make this new home office situation from abroad official.
When I moved-in originally to Zurich almost 10 years ago. I did have the luxury to get a relocation agency which helped me out to get a great apartment in the city center for a very fair price.
During the last 5 years I have been travelling back and forward between Zurich and where I live . I was enjoying a flexible workplace. Now Due to the covid and personal situation, I come up with a proposal to my company to make it official to work from home and they accepted.
I need to leave my apartment and I gave the notice to the inmobilien. I wanted to hand it over to a friend of mine who since he knew about the possibility I will leave CH for good. he was showing interest as he was in my place few times and he knew it was a good deal.
For me was also a good option. It would make my move out a little bit easier. I would give away most of the furniture to him and i will not need to empty the flat. Also he would help me out to move some of the stuff I still have.
I was at the beginning concern the inmobilien will not accept him as next tenant in case they wanted to get back the apartment in the market at a higher cost. I asked for advice in this forum and in the end I contacted the inmobilien and I was open about my intentions, i suggested my friend as nachmieter. They raise the rent a little bit but still fairly priced. A 65 sqm apartment 3Zi ? (Living Room, Kitchen, bedroom) with balcony and in front of the park by Waffenplatzstrasse (Zurich 8002) for around 1580 chf with nebenkosten.
My friend was OK with the new rent, we discussed even further about the furniture but yesterday once it was about to become official he wrote me he will not move in as his girlfriend has different plans.
We were talking about this whole thing for a few months, we spoke regularly about that during the last weeks and till the last two days, he never indicated anything else than hoping he will get the apartment.
I also put some efforts with the inmobilien to make sure he was the right person to take the place.
Now I am in this situation.
-I am abroad, and with no possibilities for traveling due to Covid and some personal situation (I have a 5 months daughter and I can not afford 10 days quarantine in switzerland)
-I can not arrange what I wanted with this apartment. The apartment is furnished and still has partially some of my stuff. I can't arrange viewings or anything.
- The guy in the Immobilien, not sure how he will take that. He is a weird character and now I am not sure if he will consider a new nachmieter or my only option would be to empty the apartment and wait till the notice is finished.
-If in the end my only option is to give the apartment back. I want to ask also what are the rules about in which condition needs to be given back for someone living 9 years and 5 months
The apartment is in good condition, in the last 5 years, I was living less than 50% of the time there. But yes, after this time there are a couple of scratches in the floor and in the walls and stuff like this and I heard some horror stories about absurd claims.
I heard something about 10 years rule.
Is my liability insurance covering?
To be honest, yes. I hope covid relax a ilttle bit, I can travel back and forward to CH without issues and be able to handle the situation but still is a a tricky question.
I appreciate your feedback. Thanks.