I have been given noticed because my landlord says that he wants to sell. (Actually, one of the other apartment owner told me that he announced at the last meeting that he has already sold it.) Does anyone know whether he can do this, or must the new owner give notice for his own use. Am I entitled to any compensation to help with the move, as I am left sitting on the cost for moving and a deposit for a new apartment as well as the inconvenience of having to look for another place and pack everything up?

Anyone been in this situation?

Not been in the situation personally but am aware of others who have who have contacted me.

I suggest you sit down with your current owner and discuss the situation. What you may have heard from another tenant may not be accurate.

Just because a building is sold, it does not mean the new owner wants to live there, it's quite likely he bought it for the rental income.

True, but the old owner may be legally required to give notice and the new owner might have to negotiate new contracts with the current owners.

Dialogue is key here...

The rental contract will continue on the same terms, if nothing is done. Property gets sold all the time, it's nothing very strange at all.

Yes, been there, done that. Unless the new owner wants to live there then they can't kick you out. You are not entitled to anything, just the notice period in the contract, saying that, in our case,the new owners where quite flexible and let us leave when we wanted to, rather then sticking to the dates in the contact. So until the place is sold hen sit tight and don't worry

Our place took nearly a year to sell. And we didn't leave for about 18 months in total

What if the new owner wants to do major renovations?

Then he will have to inform the residents at some point, The same if he wants to demolish the building!

Yes and lots of no's.

Landlord can sell at anytime. Granted could be polite, open and informed to let you know the sitch, but this is Switzerland, you merely pay rent.

Call him up, simples.

I call landlord without hesitation and ask direct if i have any concerns.

My experience bears this out...

I looked at buying a property that currently was rented to tenants of long standing. Even though I intended the property for my own use, discussions with my lawyer led me to believe that getting the tenants out would be a very long, complicated, drawn out process.

(I walked away from that one. Too much hassle.)

As the tenant, time is likely on your side.

Yes, it can be a long drawn out process but eventually the tenant is going to have to move. The question is when.

If the tenants are a family with kids in local schools, this is a very good argument for extending a tenant's stay, at least until the very end of the school year.

If the tenancy agreement has not been in place a long time, I would certainly ask for full moving expenses. Why move to a place that might be sold soon?

I agree with all that has been said. You do have lots of rights, but you will have to move out at some time. As you have had to ask this question, I can assume you need some help, and you should join the tenant's association asap. http://www.mieterverband.ch/

This problem has been covered before, and the laws have not changed in last 5 years, http://www.englishforum.ch/search2.php?q=tenant
Can the landlord sell out from under me?

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