Management demands 3,000 francs when moving house

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In Swiss cities, apartment seekers are increasingly on the verge of despair. Open positions are historically low. There are almost no flats on the market. And when rental properties show up, the fuss is so great that tenants are now willing to even dig their pockets for the landlord’s advice.

Some homeowners shamelessly take advantage of this. And determine the conditions that must be met beyond the lease agreement. That’s what happened at the Jabee Tower in Dübendorf ZH, once the tallest residential building in Switzerland. A resident of the high-rise contacted Blick: “We wanted to move from a 3.5-room apartment to a 4.5-room apartment in the high-rise building, which was available in early April,” says Martin G.*. still living in Jabee Tower, tenant wishes to remain anonymous.

Management sets new rules

Such interior changes are not uncommon in high-rise buildings. When residents move, vacated properties are often advertised internally first. But meanwhile, the Swiacasa administration has set new rules for enforcement. These also annoy the tenant. Since October 2022, property management has been asking high-rise residents to pay additional monthly rent if they move inside. Tenants have to financially support their old flat for one month after they move into the new flat.

“Until recently, relocation in tall buildings was still possible without additional costs,” says G. zu Blick. Swiacasa justifies the new rule by saying that such changes are associated with “an enormous amount of time.” That’s what Blick says in an internal letter to residents. The old flat will not be rented during this period. This is the only way to ensure cleaning and any repair and renovation work is done properly.

Serious money is not allowed

“So I would have to pay about 3,000 francs more,” says G. Jabee Towers resident, who did not accept this condition. And therefore he was not allowed to move into the larger flat. “The new regulation is not only unjust, but also illegal,” he says. He is now considering taking legal action.

Walter Angst (61), co-chairman of the Zurich Tenants’ Association, also criticizes the practice. “The so-called serious demand for money is not allowed in Switzerland,” says the expert. Claiming an additional month’s rent when moving in clearly falls into this category. “This is a perfect example of how real estate management is behaving right now due to the tense housing market,” Angst says. They are increasingly taking advantage of the fact that they have the upper hand.

Swiacasa creeps back

Swiacasa does not want to speak directly about the new fee. The administration can be informed through a lawyer: “Of course, the communicated rule caused resentment between the two affected people. To avoid future misunderstandings, the management has decided not to apply this rule anymore.”

So property management is taking a step back. It’s too late for G. The 4.5-room apartment has already been reallocated. The administration has not yet notified the tenants that the new regulation has been lifted.

* Name changed

Source :Blick