I recently relocated to Zürich, from London, and my new employers have provided me with a temporary furnished apartment for my first month here.

The bedroom I'm staying in has wood laminate tile flooring.

After I went to work one day I had an email from the landlady saying the cleaners had found evidence of some water damage and that I'd be expected to pay. Did I or my employer have liability insurance? I was slightly confused as I had no recollection of any spillage.

I checked the damage when I got home and the edges of two tiles are slightly raised.

Now there is a possibility that I may have inadvertently caused the damage. I was ironing a shirt in the room and maybe some water spilled from the iron or from the small ironing water jug.

On the other hand, how do I know this damage wasn't there before? The total amount water in the container must have been 150ml tops. Now, a week later, after her cleaners' second visit, the landlady is now saying that she has a photo of the damage with the ironing board and a turned over jug next to it.

Why did she only tell me about the photo, one week later, after the cleaners' second visit? If it was taken on the first visit, do cleaners here really carry cameras with them?

Advice on how to proceed please? What will happen if I simply refuse to pay any charge?

First of all get the photo and check the date it was taken. You never know if she was dumb enough to take it after the date and not change the metadata on the photo.

Do you not have liability insurance? Ask your employer if they have it out on the apartment.

Otherwise, you need to find out of like health insurance, you can make retro payments on liability insurance.

This will certainly be the case if you have already applied for liability insurance. Have you?

I had the same thought re: the photo. I have asked her for it.

Having only just arrived in Switzerland I haven't sorted out liability insurance. I was not advised to by my employer, the relocation firm nor the landlady. Of course I can see the use of this now . . . I'd still be tempted to try and get to the truth though.

Absolutely. Get that photo and even if you don't think it's been fiddled, there are photo nutters here who will get you the metadata behind it.

Have you spoken to the relocation firm about this? They might have an insurance out on the abode on your behalf.

I'd expect my employer to deal with the relo firm. I'll certainly try and find out directly too.

Any thoughts about what to do if it turns out I'm insurance-less?

You need to contact Jenny forthwith:

http://www.englishforum.ch/members/610-jenny.html

She is an insurance expert, send her an email or a PM. Also, read her thread:

Insurance advice offered