SwissCaution - the apartment deposit lenders thread - Page 2

Uncle Max · #21 22.10.2009, 19:45

I'm under the impression the landlord is obliged to accept Swisskaution even if s/he doesn't want to and makes a fuss when accepting you as a tenant.

Speak to them about it, as it's in their interests. And let us know

danny · #22 10.11.2009, 19:45

Same applied for the current apartment that we are living in - we met the landlady who was lovely and liked us but wouldnt hear about us using Swisskaution. She said that the apartment is ours if we used cash as a deposit rather than Swisskaution. We had to grudgingly cough up almost 10K as security deposit in the end.

[/QUOTE]

way too high...never heard of anyone putting up 10 K

danny · #23 10.11.2009, 19:48

	Quote:	MarieZug
	Our rental flat was CHF 3,200 with a deposit of CHF 3,400, so not all landlords want 3 months deposit. Rent was monthly too. If you are looking at a flat over CHF 3,000 a month, then yes, you should have at least CHF 20k put aside in savings and left untouched. How will you pay your rent and live should things not go as planned?

Or look at a flat less than 3,200 ?

gsach · #24 13.11.2009, 12:15

Hi:

I tried to search for previous discussions on the captioned topic, couldn't find any.

Is anyone using Swiss Caution? Are they cool to deal with?

Also, their website mentions that they would normally refund the money pro-rata in case you close out the Swiss Caution deposit before the end of the year, after deducting 20 CHF or something but they have a right to forfeit the entire amount. Do they have a history of not refunding the balance amount?

Any other things I should keep in mind while using them, would be useful.

Thanks, GS

bARRON · #25 13.11.2009, 12:16

Here you go...
http://www.englishforum.ch/insurance...rs-thread.html

tw44 · #26 13.11.2009, 12:59

In my opinion, if possible it is better to pay the deposit yourself.
We looked at the swiss caution option at first, but it ends up costing way too much. You have to the fee every year.

If you pay the deposit yourself, there is no yearly fee involved just your up front deposit. Then when you move out you get the deposit plus interest back...

It was hard to cough up the 3 months rent deposit at first, but when we moved out we had acually made several hundred francs in interest.

bARRON · #27 13.11.2009, 13:02

	Quote:	tw44
	It was hard to cough up the 3 months rent deposit at first, but when we moved out we had acually made several hundred francs in interest.

interest? Do they provide interest on deposits?

herc82 · #28 13.11.2009, 13:07

	Quote:	bARRON
	interest? Do they provide interest on deposits?

Well, if you can afford to put 2 or 3 months rent aside for the deposit, it will be put on a bank account in your name, but the renting party can block the money if there is anything that needs to be paid out of that.
Accordingly you accumulate the interest on this account. With Swiss Kaution you have the opportunity not to block such an amount of money, but you pay for the privilege...

If you have a generous renting company, you may also just downpay some into the blocked account and fill it up over the next few months to reach the required deposit, but I guess not every company is willing to take this risk. But you'll have to ask to know.

ilikefondue · #29 14.11.2009, 12:09

Just wanted to write something positive about my experience with SwissCaution.

After 6 months of looking for an apartment in Lausanne, myself and OH receieved the contract for a beautiful 4 piece last thursday.

Yesterday I went straight to the SwissCaution office in Bussigny to (apply for the deposit) where the staff were very friendly (the spoke english with me). The whole process took about 10 minutes and I walked out with the letter for my Reggie.

By the way the Reggi is Livit and I want to confirm that Livit DO accept SwissCaution for the deposit.

The 9th message on
http://www.englishforum.ch/insurance...rs-thread.html

states that Livit dont accept Swisscaution, but I can confirm that they DO.

Hope this helps

P

WorldTraveller · #30 04.01.2010, 17:18

We've recently moved out of a flat and we used SwissCaution when we moved in. However, now that we're out of the flat, SwissCaution insist that we should continue to pay the insurance fee because they have not received the Sclussbrief(?) from our previous rental agency yet.

Question is, do we have to continue to pay SwissCaution even if we no longer live at that apartment? Our previous rental agency VonGraffenried of Bern is dragging their heels with sending out the Schlussbrief.

Any one able to help?

summerrain · #31 04.01.2010, 17:25

	Quote:	danny
	way too high...never heard of anyone putting up 10 K

Duh, because I didnt reveal my rental price?

Yes, I can confirm that Livit accepts Swisskaution. One of the apartments I was looking at was managed by Livit and the agent mentioned that they accept Swisskaution.

Another agency that accepts SK is Privera. I am currently renting with them and they even offered to help me take care of the Swisskaution part when I signed the contract. Just in case anyone's interested.

GAILLARD · #32 07.01.2010, 15:02

Rental deposits are merely a way for estate agents and regies to cover the expenses upgrading or renovating standards of rentals under their management. In fact they charge the maintenance twice, once to the lessor and once to the lessee. Everybody knows....

I have not encountered one Swiss or foreign citizen that has NOT had problem in getting the deposit refunded in full.

One must consider that numerous insurance scams are born from this disease. A good numbert of people resort in declaring fraudulent damages when about to leave their flat so that their insurance will cover the repainting and repairs before final inspection. Insurance companies and rental agent have even proposed this option to me (yes over the phone) if I wanted to recover my full deposit (plus interest). I refused. But they still deducted some monies (30%) for upgrading the standards of the flat.

In many countries this is called fraud or theft.

ZeroBrain · #33 07.01.2010, 16:59

	Quote:	fredsan
	Thanks a lot! Seems pretty easy. Can the landlord NOT accept this and ask a deposit on a blocked account?

I just got offer for the apartment in Zurich with the info that they do not accept caution service, just cache on blocked account.

Cheers

jonnyhoar · #34 24.06.2010, 14:44

I used them - totally painless and no complaints. Obviously if you have the cashflow, pay the deposit (or ringfence it in your bank account) but, if not, this is a good deal

Mrs. Doolittle · #35 19.07.2010, 16:49

My experience is that many landlords are fine with this. The trouble is that it takes more time that setting up a rental deposit account at the bank. But the tenant does not have to come up with a lot of cash that will earn practically no interest.

One thing to note: if you have not been issued a B permit yet, Swisscaution will ask for a copy of your employment contract.

Also, once everything is approved, the guarantee certificate is issued to the landord and the tenant. It is sent by A post to the landlord but B post to the tenant.

Talk about being cheap!

danny · #36 19.07.2010, 19:20

	Quote:	GAILLARD
	Rental deposits are merely a way for estate agents and regies to cover the expenses upgrading or renovating standards of rentals under their management. In fact they charge the maintenance twice, once to the lessor and once to the lessee. Everybody knows.... I have not encountered one Swiss or foreign citizen that has NOT had problem in getting the deposit refunded in full. In many countries this is called fraud or theft.

Yes, this is basically a source of income for the agents...use the deposit to upgrade the apartment and charge the incoming tenant the higher rent.
With such steep deposits, it can really be used to basically amounts to fraud in some countries as you said. The thing is they do everything by the book.

danny · #37 19.07.2010, 19:21

	Quote:	summerrain
	Duh, because I didnt reveal my rental price? Yes, I can confirm that Livit accepts Swisskaution. One of the apartments I was looking at was managed by Livit and the agent mentioned that they accept Swisskaution. Another agency that accepts SK is Privera. I am currently renting with them and they even offered to help me take care of the Swisskaution part when I signed the contract. Just in case anyone's interested.

Indeed you did'nt but I might be able to guess..

Snoopy · #38 19.07.2010, 22:47

	Quote:	GAILLARD
	I have not encountered one Swiss or foreign citizen that has NOT had problem in getting the deposit refunded in full.

There's a first time for everything...My wife and I have rented 5 different places over the years and have yet to lose a Rappen off our deposit....

Snoopy · #39 19.07.2010, 22:53

	Quote:	danny
	Yes, this is basically a source of income for the agents...use the deposit to upgrade the apartment and charge the incoming tenant the higher rent. With such steep deposits, it can really be used to basically amounts to fraud in some countries as you said. The thing is they do everything by the book.

I don't understand...if you do a proper inspection when you move in there shouldn't be a problem when you move out. If there is, it is because the incoming inspection wasn't thorough enough. Many tenants do not place enough importance on the incoming inspection and realise their mistake when they move out. When you take over a new house/apartment you should make sure that absolutely everything is written down. You also have ten days in which to add things to the list restrospectively (the number of days may vary from canton to canton I understand).

carcharhinus · #40 19.07.2010, 23:04

	Quote:	GAILLARD
	Rental deposits are merely a way for estate agents and regies to cover the expenses upgrading or renovating standards of rentals under their management. In fact they charge the maintenance twice, once to the lessor and once to the lessee. Everybody knows.... I have not encountered one Swiss or foreign citizen that has NOT had problem in getting the deposit refunded in full.

I have never had a problem. Only once, there were some minor repairs I had to partly pay for (you never have to bear the full amount due to wear and tear), mainly painting, but that is what private liability insurance is for. In this case, the payment was so low that I did not even bother to call my insurance due to the deductible of CHF 200.00.

The rental deposit is a last resort for the landlord if a tenant refuses to pay, however, a rental deposit can only be used with the agreement of both parties (landlord and tenant) or with some legal proceedings. A landlord cannot just use the rental deposit whenever and for whatever he likes.

Martin