I have been here in Zürich for the last 16 days and already in my 3rd Serviced Apartment....nothing to do with me...but just non availability of affordable accommodation.

I first rented for 8 days with Swiss Star...then had to move coz they had reservation ...to Vision AG....and then again to another one which I found on homegate and I moved in today.

When I went to look at the present one (where I shifted today) there was a chap from the rental company who showed me the apartment and he told me there is no deposit...and I can smoke in the apartment. He told me that another lady is dealing with this flat and that she was on holiday. That lady came back this week confirmed the rent and told me that I need to pay a deposit. I agreed on the deposit becoz I didn't have any place to stay.

I moved this morning with all my luggage to this apartment...she shows me the contract to sign...and I was surprised that she had put 500 CHF as moving out cleaning charges (End Reinigung). I told her I am not going to pay this becoz If I had known there is a charge I wouldn't have rented it. No other serviced apartment asked me for move out cleaning charges.
I could not walk away from the contract becoz I had no other place to go...and wanted to get to work.
I argued with her and then she called her boss and reduced it to 100 CHF.
She also changed that in the contract.
And then she said that if I smoke in the apartment then I would have to pay 200 CHF as another Reinigung charge. Which is unfair. If I had known that this is strictly non smoking apartment I wouldn't have rented it. (Her colleague said it was allowed to smoke).
Normally I prefer not to smoke in the apartment..but most of the apartments here don't have balcony.

The rent for the apartment is 2280 CHF.

Now I have paid her that amount in cash as rent which she says is taken as deposit and would have to pay another 2280 as rent in a few days.

To legally protect myself what shall I do?
Before I pay her I am going to ask in writing that it is allowed to smoke. If she doesn't agree she doesn't get any more money from me.

In that case ...can she kick me out of the apartment?
I am only going to rent it for this month.
What are your experiences?

Oh, man.

Wow.

First of all, get everything in writing about the apartment. Do not go on the word of anyone, always get everything in writing. Smoking allowed? Has to be in writing. Paying a deposit or not, has to be in writing. Included costs? Has to be in writing.

2nd: talk to the Zurich renters association. They can help you with the legalities. You have to pay a small fee to be a member, but really useful if you need it.

Next tip, don't move in any where without seeing the contract first. They can really rip you off otherwise.

My biggest piece of advice: get away from short-term contracts. If you can at all, try and get a long-term contract. I don't know your situation or how long you plan on staying here, but it really will help you save money and hassle.

__________________
Floccinaucinihilipilification: act of describing something as useless.

Try www.ums.ch next time.. these are not service apartment but furnished apartments of people who go on short or long term vacation.
UMS chanrghes you commision but usually the contracting process is very clear. Also the rent of the apartment (decided by the owner) is usualy less compared to the services apartments
good luck