Just arrived in CH and trying to make sense of the property market here. Just a few questions to make me understand a bit more:
How come that different apartments, have different costs under NK? Why is heating usually included in NK, and electricity not? I am abroad a lot. What happens if I use less, for instance, heating than what I have paid for? Do I get money back?
Electricity is metered in each separate apartment so you can pay it separately.
If the whole building uses less heating than paid for, you will get a refund on your NK. If you use more, you'll receive a nice invoice for it. It doesn't matter how much you use individually (usually), but the building as a whole.
It's just an estimate and you can receive refunds or invoices for the NK.
Only very few buildings have metres on each radiators which allow a true "use per flat". Only in such a flat would you pay less if you used less. To landlords using the other systems of calcualtion, even if you were away most of the winter, with your radiators set only on the minimum (frost-prevention) level, you would still have to pay your share.
At a first glance, this may seem unfair. However, each flat's consumption affects the neighbours. If someone turns their heating up full, then naturally the adjacent flats will be, at least in part, warmed by that, too. Likewise, if someone turns their own heating down low, then they would not be co-heating for their neighbours, and therefore the neighbours would be more likely to [have to] turn the radiators up.
Add to that the fact that the flats on the ground floor are right on the cold earth (or cold cellar) and the flats on the top floor right under the snow. The flats in the middle are somewhat insulated, and may need to use less heating because they profit from their neighbours upstairs and downstairs.
In any case, this topic can be endlessly discussed, and it can be a really wise step, psychologically, just to set aside some hundreds of Francs, from the start, in case, in Summer, you are sent a bill.
Nebenkosten can also include non-variable cost such as the cleaner of the stair-well. Historically, many flats made it a duty that the tenants took turns to clean the stairs. This kept the costs down, and that was very important during and after the World War II, when many flats in Switzerland were built. As society has become wealthier and busier, tenants have become less willing to do this work, so that landlords are more inclined just to pay a cleaning-service and charge this to the tenants.
Electricity is metered per flat. Usually somewhere in the cellar, there is an electrical meter. When you move in, it is a good idea to check that the caretaker or the representative of the electricity company comes by to take the meter reading. That way, it is clear that - up till then - the amount used is the responsiblity of the tenant before you. From that reading, (which should be very close to the day you move in) you pay a monthly or quarterly (depending on the local rules) electricity bill. It is directly according to your own consumption, i.e. use more = pay more. However, electricity is absurdly cheap in Switzerland (though this, too, like everything else, can vary from area to area), so that for tenants of middle-class homes it is not usually felt to be a major expense, when set in relation to rental and other fixed expenses.
Exactly what I'm dealing with...I got an apartment with a pretty good total cost and NK of 60CHF per month. Then I received a nice bill after 3 months for another 145CHF...Not a nice surprise. If NK looks too low, it just may well be.
Another point - sometimes NK includes the cable connection (cablecom TV & internet) which is around 30chf per month if you pay yourself. You can see this on the lease. If it's part of your NK and you don't use it, you can ask for it to be cancelled.
Tom
For a 3 to 4 bedroom apartment you can expect at least Fr 300,-- per month for the above charges. If you are only paying Fr 80,-- NK with the rent, you can have a nasty surprise. Save the money each month and after a year of living there, you will have a better idea of the hidden charges.
There are many things about the property market here which are illogical.
If you look for a modern apartment which is well insulated and has an efficient heating system this could result in lower nebenkosten. An apartment with individual room controls will allow you to have more control over the temperature in your apartment.
As for the flat search, if you look a bit further outside the city of Zurich you will have a better chance at finding an apartment.
So try to find out the real cost of Heizung and NK before you sign the contract. The number on your contract isn't always helpful here, because if the actual cost is higher than what you have paid, then you are obliged to pay the difference.
Ideally the apartment would have a 50'000 liter tank, and was only ever 70% full, so the landlord could top up with special offers during the year. But that is an ideal situation, and usually when the tank level is low enough to accommodate a fresh delivery, the landlord orders some fuel. Why should he care if it isn't a Summer month when fuel is cheaper? You will have to pay for the fuel, whatever the end price is.... If you have a choice, choose an apartment in a new building, as then at least the central heating boiler will be efficient..!