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“I’m away for three weeks and during this time I’m renting my 1-bedroom apartment with separate kitchen and large balcony.” So writes tenant Léa N.* on the internet platform Ronorp. The advertised flat is located in the Wiedikon district of Zurich. Léa N. continues: “The three weeks fee includes internet and is CHF 800. You can also borrow my bike if you want.”
Why is Léa N. renting her flat for such a short period of time? She tells Blick: “The apartment shouldn’t be empty and it should make someone else happy.” The tender also has a financial aspect for them. A student from Germany who attended a seminar in Zurich responded to the call for applications. A second application came from a 30-year-old employee who moved, who has yet to find anything suitable. Léa N. has rented her flat in this way “at least ten times”. She has had consistently positive experiences. “Only one subtenant did not clear.”
a new phenomenon
Lea N. is no exception. Nadia Loosli (51) confirms that the apartments are rented for very short periods. She knows the rental market of the city of Zurich better than almost anyone, she has been sending the «Immomailing» newsletter with Zurich apartment advertisements every day for 20 years. “There are more listings out there than people who want to rent their flat for just two or three weeks,” she says. This didn’t happen 15 years ago. “On the contrary, back then, people were leaving their homes even if they were going on a one-year world tour.”
Sub-leases are generally allowed. Three conditions must be met:
- The main tenant notifies the landlord of the planned sublease in advance and explains the lease terms to him.
- The main tenant gains nothing from the sublease.
- The landlord does not suffer a significant disadvantage as a result of the sublease (for example, the apartment becomes a business with many customers).
It is recommended that the sub-lease be drawn up with a written lease agreement (sub-lease agreement template). The main tenant is responsible to the landlord for all damages to the rented flat. In case of a furnished flat, a maximum of 20 percent additional fee may be charged due to the wear and tear of the furniture. Otherwise, it is often abuse to rent an apartment for a higher price. According to the Federal Supreme Court, you are not required to live in a rented flat yourself. If you leave the flat to a friend for free, you don’t need the landlord’s permission.
Sub-leases are generally allowed. Three conditions must be met:
- The main tenant notifies the landlord of the planned sublease in advance and explains the lease terms to him.
- The main tenant gains nothing from the sublease.
- The landlord does not suffer a significant disadvantage as a result of the sublease (for example, the apartment becomes a business with many customers).
It is recommended that the sub-lease be drawn up with a written lease agreement (sub-lease agreement template). The main tenant is responsible to the landlord for all damages to the rented flat. In case of a furnished flat, a maximum of 20 percent additional fee may be charged due to the wear and tear of the furniture. Otherwise, it is often abuse to rent an apartment for a higher price. According to the Federal Supreme Court, you are not required to live in a rented flat yourself. If you leave the flat to a friend for free, you don’t need the landlord’s permission.
World travelers have agreed to remove their beds, sofas, desks, and cabinets from their homes and store them in a warehouse for a fee. They also had to look for a new flat before returning. Today the situation is completely different. A recent query on Ronorp and Immoscout24 shows that dozens of apartments in the cities of Zurich, Bern and Basel are advertised for a limited period of one or even six months.
Holidays are twice as expensive
One reason for this is the high rents in cities. They make vacations twice as expensive: On the one hand, there is expensive rent for your own unused apartment. On the other hand, the cost of the hotel or holiday apartment during the stay.
Another reason is the lack of neighbor help, which was a common practice in the past: the cat also wants to be fed in the absence of a vacation. Or – quite simply – the need for someone to take care of the apartment, water the plants, empty the mailbox and air it regularly.
Attention: risks!
But short-circuit leasing is associated with effort and risks. First you need to find someone who wants to rent the apartment. Primary tenants are at risk if short-term tenants and landlords don’t know each other. Sub-tenants can cause damages for which the original tenant is responsible. Or they owe the amount required to sublease. Sub-tenants who do not use the apartment for their agreed purpose are particularly bold.
Just like Heiko S., whose business model Blick made public at the end of 2017. Residents rented apartments on vacation for several weeks or months. Alone: He hired prostitutes instead of living there.
*Name changed
Source :Blick
I’m Tim David and I work as an author for 24 Instant News, covering the Market section. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, my mission is to provide accurate, timely and insightful news coverage that helps our readers stay informed about the latest trends in the market. My writing style is focused on making complex economic topics easy to understand for everyone.
