Blick readers fear higher rents: ‘I’m in financial trouble’

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Many apartment tenants are already financially tight. Now there is a risk of a rent increase. According to the calculation, rents could increase by three percent. For the first time since the reference rate was introduced in 2008, the rate was increased from 1.25% to 1.5%. After the bad news, many tenants contacted Blick. They all have one thing in common: the fear that they will no longer be able to afford a roof over their heads soon.

Computer scientist Albi Emerllahi (27) has been living in a two-and-a-half-room partially furnished apartment in Höngg, Zurich for over a year. “I initially paid 2,100 francs for rent and additional expenses. It is already 2500 francs,” he says. The reason cited for the increase was, among other things, rising gas prices. “If the rent goes up even more now, I’ll have to spend more than half of my income on it every month.”

“The blood of the middle class is drying up”

Emerllahi has no complaints. But the 27-year-old Austrian wonders how families and low-income people can still afford to live in the city of Zurich: “I am young, I have a good education, I have a good job and I have no children or other obligations. Even I am slowly but surely getting into trouble financially.” Also, the young man has been looking for another apartment for a while and was rejected after being rejected. He can only speculate about the reasons: the foreign name can play a role. The result: “I am facing great difficulties and I have no support. And I have no alternative.”

Tanja A.* (50) from Maienfeld GR also earns quite well in marketing. Still, the Germans are afraid: “The blood of the middle class is slowly drying up.” Her husband works in production and earns a rather modest income there. Fixed costs, on the other hand, are high and rising steadily: the couple pays 3,600 francs a month for an old house to accommodate two dogs. First of all, the side costs in the poorly insulated building skyrocketed. Now moving to an apartment should relieve the household budget. “We’re looking. As new tenants, we’re likely to feel the rent increase directly.”

“I’m already at the limit”

Other people who approach Blick with their stories are in a vulnerable position: the elderly, single parents or the sick. Some messages speak of pure desperation. One senior wrote: “I am already at the border. Living with AHV and the added benefits is a tough run. He worked for 50 years and served hundreds of days before living in old age poverty. The sad result: “I would be happy if I could leave as soon as possible.”

Reader Sandra Zweifel writes: “If rent goes up, it would be completely devastating for me, as I am a single parent and have a very low salary despite an 80 percent workload.” “Financially behind and ahead” wouldn’t work out for him.

Other readers have already made plans in case of additional financial burden: “An extra 200 francs a month means I’ll have to increase my part-time workload,” writes Lorenzo. However, “fortunately” expects an increase of only around 60 francs per month.

It sounds abstract: the reference rate rises by 0.25 percentage points. However, this increase alone has serious consequences in some cases.

*Name known

Source : Blick