We have a strange situation. We signed a contract in Feb 2011 for a flat in Zurich. The plumbing has alot of problems which they fixed in the first week of moving in after I complained everything was blocked (kitchen waste came up the bath etc.... ) It has slowly got worse and again last week the same plumber came round and it is now much better again. He said it badly needs a renovation (it smells quite bad too)
While this is going on the elderly neighbours who own their flats inform me that the whole building either summer 2012 or summer 2013 will be completely renovated (kitchens / bathrooms and the pipes which are all blocked). They tell me that they plan to put a shower in the keller area for the building to use and that the building with have no running water for 4 weeks. (Most of the elderly neighbours are moving out to relatives from what they say)
I asked the agency what was going on and they say at the moment they can not say what or when it is happening but its possible that they add some rent afterwards.
My questions are:
Do they have to give us 3 months notice to put the rent up?
Do they have to end the contract in March and September (as we do if we give notice)?
Can they make us live here for one month with no running water and charge rent?
What would you do? hand in your notice in Nov and leave end of March? (we can not hand in notice in Dec as contract states so)
Am I right in thinking there are alot more flats available in March and September?
We are a little confused at what we should do as we like the flat, the price is fair but we planned on being here more like 2-3 years and not just 1 year before moving..... again.
Any thoughts welcomed