So that's it, the Switzerland I was looking at through rose coloured spectacles is no more.
We have been living in an apartment in the accomodation at the Kantonsspital Baden for ages, me 5 years, and hubby 12 years. The rent is very reasonable, we are right on the edge of woodland and some lovely countryside, enjoy running and walking. It is quiet, we are near to a very regular bus service and some small shops, ten minutes by bus to Baden.
Then.. last week I had a phone call, they want the appartment for hospital staff .
We are now stressed and depressed, searching for somewhere to live. We have seen three places so far, been rejected by one, are seeing two more today and another on Saturday. It also appears hubby's age is against us, he retires in October 2013.
I'm feeling very vulnerable at the moment, I think I'm writing this just to let off some steam and get a little sympathy, or if anyone has any suggestions I will be eternally grateful.

I am so sorry to hear this. When you live somewhere you love and you have to get out of it, it is tough and depressing.

I can guess how you must feel. I really hope you'll find something very soon and I am sure it wil be better. I didn't believe it but it is true. We found an appartment I was in love with and we lost it even after we signed the contract. It was horrible. But we managed to find a better one. I am so glad today that happened.

I wish you the best of luck to find that new place. I know how much stress you have to deal now and for the futur until everything is done.

Hugs.

sorry I can't help at all ( I do know moving is always such a trauma... x2 in the land of Cheese ) but I just wanted to wish you the best of luck.

Sorry to hear about that...

If you want to stay around Baden but still prefer to be closer to the countryside may I suggest Ennetbaden? With the recent pedestrian bridge by the Limmat and the lift to Badstrasse you're in the centre/bahnhof in no time!

I pick my apartments mainly by location and found this site perfect:
http://immo.search.ch/
Make sure you check the Area(map) checkbox and then just move the map around to see the available apartments!

Good luck!

Thanks Nil, that does help, I suppose there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. I must be feeling a bit fragile, your post actually brought tears to my eyes, especially the hugs.

You really have my heartfelt sympathy on this one. We once came back from a ski-holiday on a shoe-string to find a notice to quit waiting for us. We really hadn't much money and finding accomodation, although not as difficult as it is at the moment, was not easy then either.

We were lucky. As the firm who had bought the block we lived in to house their workers were keen to get us out without us applying for extension of rental, they helped us. We found a flat which hadn't been advertised. Even then there were masses of applications for flats, so owners tended to find a new tenant 'between themselves'.

Good luck în your search.

Get a job at the hospital?

Sorry to hear about this. Wishing you lots of luck. Where one door closes, a window opens.

Thanks Pegaso, actually the rejection we had was for a place in Ennetbaden! We have another one to look at there though. One great thing about Ennetbaden is the saving we would make on bus fares.
We have been looking on homegate.ch, I will check out your suggestion now.

Oh dear... when do you have to move out? And can they actually kick you out to let somebody from the staff live there? Is that legal?

So sorry to hear that you have to move from a place you love. I have faith you'll find an equally lovely place.

I second the recommendation for immo.search.ch. It's really useful with the map feature. Another good site is comparis.ch. But don't underestimate the local bulletin boards and "petite announce" sites like Anibis.ch

Good luck!

Thanks Grynch, means a lot.

ps Sorry mods for not multi-quoting, I've been replying as each reply pops up.

We've been given until 30 April, which isn't bad. I don't know the law but it seems they can.
We saw a place just over the road from here, the only one in Dättwil in our price range and as a knee-jerk reaction almost went for it as it is so close. We then realised we both hated the place, the kitchen has no work surfaces and was so tiny we wouldn't both fit in it at the same time, we would have ended up at each other's throats after a very short time!

ps How are you?

No it's not. Getting a renter with a secure income till end-of-life is the best a landlord can get.

Turn the situation around, it isn't easy. But rather than thinking about the old place, look forward to something better than you've had before. All changes happen for a reason, karma and all that.

Good luck to you. You'll be just fine.

To help you in this suggestion from Assassin, look around your appartment and find every little flaw about it. Don't look at the good side every single downside of it.

Here's a list of available apartments in or within 5 km of Baden, sorted from cheapest to most expensive:

http://www.homegate.ch/mieten/wohnun...&tid=1&be=5000

Chin up. You'll find somewhere and then you'll wonder why you were stressed and depressed - which is anyway a normal state of affairs for most people when in flux.

Such bad luck, I was under the impression that landlords rarely serve notice to quit here but it seems that I was wrong judging by the number of replies you have had.

My bubble has burst too but for very different reasons - including rude and noisy neighbours and the obsession for construction in this country done by inefficient and inconsiderate builders. Never seen anything like it.

France here we come! (Yes, I realise that brings its own set of new problems ).

ah crap hannah's auntie, so sorry to hear that.

Hate to throw out the cliches and all, but I am a firm believer of "everything happens for a reason". We might not see it now but we just have to keep the faith and roll with the punches.

Maybe start a thread on EF with your search criteria as to size, location and ideal budget? There are usually people looking for nachmeiters or new tenants on here for their apartments. You'll never know what might land in your inbox.

Alternatively, fellow EFer, MrsDoolittle on here is based in Baden and has many contacts for her line of work. She might be able to help?

Good luck with your search. Hope you find something soon.

I feel better about that now, thanks.

Aw thanks Assassin, I do tend to get attached to places and hate change... Somewhere out there is a home waiting for us, you are quite right. I must think positively.

We have no bath, just a shower, no balcony, no oven just a hob and microwave, the carpets are ok but I'd love parquet or laminate, you're right Nil, this place sucks!

Have done as you suggested summerrain and posted a thread with our basic needs. Thanks.

Thanks so much all, I am so touched by your ideas and kind thoughts. x

Sorry to hear that.
Don't be worrying about finding a place.
We are all sure you will manage to find one, even better than the one before.
Whatever happens, happens for a reason, so good luck and looking forward to the housewarming.