Hi I have a question which I am not entirely sure if I can answer correctly myself.

At the start of the winter we noticed that radiators weren't working correctly in the bathroom, bedrooms and kitchen. Called the housing agency and eventually 4 weeks later someone came to fix them. They changed the thermostat on the bathroom radiator and supposedly fixed the other problems however a few weeks later their acting up again. I called again and someone came. They spent literately 15mins here messing about with the radiators and then left.

Now the 1st time they came I had to sign an invoice for the work done and to confirm that the thermostat was changed but nothing about the cost for the thermostat but the 2nd time they came they gave me nothing to sign.

This week from the housing agency we are after receiving a bill for the work done last week for 131 chf now as far as I know we shouldn't be paying for this work done as it is not a problem which we caused and it is part of the housing and shouldn't be up to the renter to pay for. At least from what I know these sort of problems are up to the housing agency to sort out.

Can anyone tell me if I do have to pay this or should the agency be paying it?

I know 131 chf isn't a big deal but I'm not going to pay it if indeed we shouldn't be. Also on top of that the radiator in the kitchen still isn't working properly. When the thermostat is fully closed/turned off sometimes it still heats up really hot then a few hours later will go off again.

Thanks for the help in advance guys.

You need to read your rental agreement contract-

I don-t know the official law anyway for that but something should be mentionned in the contract.

This very much depend on what is stated in your rental agreement with the landlord. The amount quoted above is not ver high but it's good to find out if you are liable to pay it. Every contact can be different.

For other major repairs on the house which exceed few hundred bucks in total it is worth to get liability insurance or household insurance. It doesn't cost much (e.g Zurich costs some hundred franks per annum) and you never know you may need it as things happen.

It is generally accepted that the tenant is responsible for minor repairs. Usually this is taken to be up to CHF 200 per problem.

As a second visit was necessary, and you suggest even a third visit is necessary, I think you should tell the agency you are not going to pay as it was a follow up visit to complete the work not completed properley on the first visit. (The agency should tell the heating company they are not going to pay the second bill, as the first job wasn't completed properly) It looks to me that they are looking for an easy solution.

Do it in writing, be polite, and send per registered letter.

I just browsed thru my Mietevertrag and couldn't find anything on Reparaturen which is repairs. Last time though, when I had to address the problem with my specialized toilet's broken seat c.a. CHF350 the house agent representing the landlord said what Ittigen mentioned above. I had to pay excess of CHF200 to my insurance company and thing was sorted out. If I were you, I would give them a call and find out what's cooking.