There are three numbers to check: Is my landlord asking too much for a rent increase?

class=”sc-29f61514-0 jbwksb”>

Phones in Observer Advice Center do not ring. “It’s ringing all the time and there’s a rent increase every second call,” says Katrin Reichmuth, an observant tenancy law expert.

A higher reference rate of 1.5 instead of 1.25% has been in effect since 1 June. This allows landlords to increase rents. Many tenants have already received a corresponding letter. “The question is whether the increase is correct,” says Observer Advisor Reichmuth.

The prevailing impression in the tenants’ association is that the increases are often very high. The association offers a rent calculator on its website that you can use to check if the new interest rate is correct (see below). The Basel Tenants’ Association notes that in 45 percent of cases, the increase was probably unjustified, meaning it was too high. There is a similar number in the tenants’ association in Zurich. This is reported by the “Sonntagszeitung”.

“We also continue to realize that the hikes are too high and we recommend that you appeal the rent change,” says Katrin Reichmuth of the Observer Advice Center.

There are three tricks to check

What can tenants do? There are three reasons why landlords increase the net rent (rent less additional costs):

1. As it is now, when the benchmark mortgage interest rate rose.
2. Due to general inflation according to the national consumer price index.
3. Due to the general increase in operating and maintenance costs.

Due to the increased reference interest rate, the rent may increase by 3 percent – but only under certain conditions. Landlords are allowed to reflect 40 percent of inflation on rent. Both numbers can be checked relatively easily with a rent calculator, for example at www.mietrecht.ch.

General cost increase-related to increased costs for rent increase, property taxes, insurance premiums or maintenance work. The older the home, the more homeowners need repairs and renovations to maintain the property’s value. “It’s worth a closer look here—hosts here often charge way too much,” says Observer consultant Katrin Reichmuth.

Request a justification for the increase

Most arbitral authorities operate at a flat rate of 0.5 to 1 percent per year for the overall increase in costs. Tenants should ask themselves two questions: Is the house neglected or even neglected? Are items such as elevator service or garden maintenance billed as ancillary costs?

“Anyone who answers yes twice should use the pocket calculator,” advises Reichmuth. The increase should be in the lower half of the flat rate. “Suggest a surcharge of 0.25 to 0.5 percent to the landlord and ask for an explanation of how he came up with the figures.”

The arbitration authority is full of demands

If the rent increase is too high, you can appeal to the arbitration board. This must be done within 30 days of receipt of the registered letter.

Many tenants have already done this. For example, the arbitration authority in Zurich has received 265 requests since the reference interest rate was raised in early June. Just last Monday 55 and Tuesday morning 68.

“We expect things to continue like this over the next few days,” says the Zurich District Court. The normal situation is 10 to 15 applications per month.

Source :Blick