Hello,

I skipped the formal introduction, one will follow after a brief problem description.

I moved here recently, and have an apartment rental contract set up. All the forms were signed around the end of August, and I delayed going to the bank to set up the rental deposit account (Sparkonto Für Mietkaution). Worse than that I sent it in incomplete by accident and got it back from the bank (Credit Suisse) last week to resubmit. I am supposed to take possession next Monday, I still don't have the forms back from the bank so I don't really have a way to deposit the money. The landlord seems to be fairly "easy going" by Swiss standards, and it's really just some lawyer, not a company or anything.

Before contacting him again I would like to know what is normal here (Zurich if that helps) for these accounts, is it absolutely essential that the account be set up before I take possession, could it wait another week? If it is essential is there some semi-formal way to deal with a situation like this? I was thinking of offering him a completed GIRO pay in slip for the amount that should be in the deposit account, and if I don't get the account set up he could cash that, or of pre paying an amount of rent for the amount that should be in the account, or, the method I've thought of but would rather avoid, of just giving him the amount and asking that he give it back to me once I have the account set up. Having the money for all this isn't my main concern, it's getting possession ok, and not starting out on the wrong foot with the landlord.

Any thoughts on what would be normal etiquette here would be greatly appreciated.


(The after thought for me, I moved here in mid August for work in the non bank financial services sector, my initial thought is to stay here for three years, but I'll see how everything goes. I've found this forum very helpful for day to day type things, it's been great. I'm originally from Canada, am working in Zurich, and really look forward to travelling around Europe while I'm working here, and hope to learn high German over the coming months)

TIA!

It is normal to have some evidence, have you not kept a copy you can show him? You could ask the bank to fax a copy to his company on Monday, or at least offer him this option.

I would not suggest the slip, way too complicated and open for fraud.

Just discuss it with him as per the above

Good advice, I should have made a copy of the letter the bank sent back to me last week telling me the forms were incomplete, I have an extra copy of the incomplete account set up form with me, I'll try Credit Suisee Monday morning to see if they can fax anything (I don't have the letter with the incident number or whatever so this might be a little difficult, I also don't have any other accounts with Credit Suisee).

Someone from work today said it was unusual for the tenant to have to set the account up, and that because of that (the landlord is really making me do his work for him), I shouldn't get in too much trouble, so long as I get the money in the account soon.