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

You can demand rent free whilst the work is going on, I know a piss taking ex girlfriend ended up with 6 months rent free as there were minor details outstanding. It's up to you what you accept.

We know had the renovation situation in the apartment buildung we though own a flat (not rent). The sanitary utilities weren't blocked all the time and we had running water according to a schedule and on set weeks. It was necessary work to sanitize the pipes and provide them with a coating (inside) to prevent them from future oxidation. The whole process has lasted for 4 to 6 weeks. If it is likely that all of the bathroom utilities will have to be replaced, I also would look for a different place to stay during the renovation period.

I would expect a raise in rent. The necessary works we had done were estimated CHF 22'000 for each party of the building. Your landlord will be interested in getting the investment back, fairly sure. Also your agency has indicated it already.

Start hunting for a move now.

Ask yourself is it worth going through this shower regime, which is likely to be pretty disgusting in the winter months when it is freezing cold. They did the same to my friend, they moved straight away. Though the renovation of their old block is nearly done, so maybe you want to look there? its Seestrasse 50 (i think), Kilchberg