We moved here 1 October and as the landlord was walking us around there was a problem with a light in a bedroom. He sent an electrician, I saw no bill, no problem.

Two weeks later we finally get round to putting up the light fittings in the rest of the apartment. Only one light in the hall worked and after fitting the living room light the power points stopped working. I called the landlord, who came round first to check what it was and then called an electrician.

Electrician came round and first complained that my light bulbs were German and not Swiss but eventually said they would work but I should get Swiss ones soon (sigh). I'm not exactly sure what he did but he did get everything working. He said the bill would come to me, which it has 111CHF for 45 minutes.

The hall light has gone back to only one working. AND, the former tenant came round and told me that they had a problem with the light in the hall and the electrics shorting each other out as it is old wiring (I have to balance the plug connections as light switches can turn off the power sometimes).

Anyway, who should pay the 111CHF, if it was an existing problem surely it should be the landlord in which case would I just send it on to them.

Thanks for your input.
Dotty

Send the bill to the landlord. It is not a problem that you caused through normal use so you don't have to pay. Reference: http://www.mieterverband.ch/zh_mb_mangel.0.html.

In this case it probably won't be a problem but in general most of the communication with your landlord should be written so that you have a record.

I am under the impression that lights and light fittings are included in the building when you rent them.