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07.03.2008, 16:02
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| | Flatmate problem & Breaking contract
I signed a contract for my current flatshare for 5 months, till end of June. I am subletting from a woman who is overseas during this time and am sharing with her boyfriend.
This guy has gone psychotic on me a couple of times (huge screaming rants and threats from a BIG guy), and every Thurs and Sat I get woken up to him returning from the bar with friends. Last Thurs it was 3-4:30am. Last night, we discussed it before he left but of course it happened again and when I finally got out of bed to say someting he went pyscho again and told me to get out if I dont like it. Without getting into all the events, it is clear he is regretting agreeing with his gf to the situation in the first place.
So I need to get out. I have to give one month's notice and find a replacement. Given the reason I took this place in the first place since I couldnt find a permanent place, I doubt I could find a place for Apr 1 anyways now. I will try for May 1 (not so sure here either), but I am not so confident that I could find a replacement.
Anyways, my real question do I have grounds to just walk away if I do find a place. I mean what are the rules on this sort of thing in Zurich. It seems to me I have grounds to break the contract.
As I type this I just received a message from him saying sorry. It's like he is bipolar or something. I was going to contact the landlord, his gf, today, but not sure if I should try to find a place first.
Any advice would be appreciated.
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07.03.2008, 16:09
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| | Re: Flatmate problem & Breaking contract | Quote: | |  | | | I signed a contract for my current flatshare for 5 months, till end of June. I am subletting from a woman who is overseas during this time and am sharing with her boyfriend.
This guy has gone psychotic on me a couple of times (huge screaming rants and threats from a BIG guy), and every Thurs and Sat I get woken up to him returning from the bar with friends. Last Thurs it was 3-4:30am. Last night, we discussed it before he left but of course it happened again and when I finally got out of bed to say someting he went pyscho again and told me to get out if I dont like it. Without getting into all the events, it is clear he is regretting agreeing with his gf to the situation in the first place.
So I need to get out. I have to give one month's notice and find a replacement. Given the reason I took this place in the first place since I couldnt find a permanent place, I doubt I could find a place for Apr 1 anyways now. I will try for May 1 (not so sure here either), but I am not so confident that I could find a replacement.
Anyways, my real question do I have grounds to just walk away if I do find a place. I mean what are the rules on this sort of thing in Zurich. It seems to me I have grounds to break the contract.
As I type this I just received a message from him saying sorry. It's like he is bipolar or something. I was going to contact the landlord, his gf, today, but not sure if I should try to find a place first.
Any advice would be appreciated. | | | | | Contact the landlord and the GF and get out. There is no reason to put up with abuse, I'm sure this is a contract breaker.
Find something, call a friend, get out. Not a healthy situation.
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07.03.2008, 16:13
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| | Re: Flatmate problem & Breaking contract
I agree with gooner. Get the heck out of dodge.
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07.03.2008, 16:20
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| | Re: Flatmate problem & Breaking contract
The fact this guy's your landlords partner is neither here nor there: you're both sharing the appartment and he's not your Diddy.
He should respect you and your right to live in the home.
Easy for me to write, though, when the trouble is at 4am with a huge drunk guy. He's not bi-polar, more likely a coke head. Talk to him in the AM when his guard's down.
I'd tell his girlfrined / your landlord regardless. Obviously he doesn't respect your needs. He can say sorry till the cows come home but how's his past form?
Complain to her. If the consequences are such that you can no longer live there (he flips out) then someone here has a sofa for you.
Good luck
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07.03.2008, 16:37
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| | Re: Flatmate problem & Breaking contract
Given that your landlord is your flatmate's girlfriend, I think this can be sorted out informally.
I suggest you give her a call and explain the situation (emphasising that your flatmate has asked you to leave) and ask if you can come to an agreement where you will give her "adequate" notice once you find a new place to live. Once you find a new place, you may be lucky and can move in right away, or you might have to wait up to 1 or 2 months for the current tenants to move out. I would suggest nothing less than 2 weeks' notice. You've had to put up with enough to date, so you may as well propose an agreement that works in your favour.
If your landlord disagrees and insists that you give 1 month's notice and also find a replacement, check your contract to see if there is any other "out". Unfortunately, I do not know too much about tenancy law in Switzerland, but most countries recognise the right to freedom to enjoy your property.
But as I've written above, you should hopefully be able to resolve your problem informally. Though you might risk worsening the situation because your flatmate might then think that you're running to his girlfriend to complain. But if he has another episode, then it will just strengthen your case. It is in your landlord's interests to keep this matter away from the authorities, i.e. it will embarrass her if you lodge a complaint about her boyfriend being rowdy and abusive.
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07.03.2008, 16:50
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| | Re: Flatmate problem & Breaking contract | Quote: | |  | | | <snip> It is in your landlord's interests to keep this matter away from the authorities, i.e. it will embarrass her if you lodge a complaint about her boyfriend being rowdy and abusive. | | | | | Ha! Ha! yes, he also knows you know about his life whilst Wifey is away. Even if he's innocent of anything, he's still guilty, right
Flat sharing is a diplomatic minefield. Even if you're really resenting this chap, do you best to allow him to save face.
Or poison him Ha! ha!
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07.03.2008, 16:56
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| | Re: Flatmate problem & Breaking contract
Actually, he is guilty. And I also think he is officially registered elsewhere for taxes. So I got lots on him.
Just need to find a suitable place to move to before I rock the boat.
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07.03.2008, 17:00
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| | Re: Flatmate problem & Breaking contract
Hope all works out for you i cannot imagine living in that awful situation no one deserves that kind of abuse. Goodluck with finding a new place fast.
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07.03.2008, 17:02
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Thurgau
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| | Re: Flatmate problem & Breaking contract
Look at andyp00007 thread he his looking for a flatmate to share in Zurich 1500frcs.
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09.03.2008, 14:28
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| | Re: Flatmate problem & Breaking contract
Typical Racist. This sounds like he can't stand the fact that someone needs to tell him how to conduct himself.
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18.03.2008, 16:00
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| | Re: Flatmate problem & Breaking contract
Thanks for everyone's help and support. Thanks to a posting here on EF, I got the first place I applied for!!!!!!!! Complete opposite to previously where I was a broken (foreign) man after 3 months and 300 applications.
I called the gf landlord this morning. Gave my notice and we agreed that I didn't have to find a replacement. I will of course get everything in writing. I was amused by how psycho boy had been complaining about me all this time. There are always two sides to a story, but I can't recall having done anything bad. I've got another 6 weeks at the place, but I pretty much avoid the place except for sleep and am happy to continue to do so knowing I finally have a nice permanent place to my own.
Two points that came out of this for me:
1) People should continue to put housing/apartment postings to the EF first before anywhere else, since that's the only way we foreigners will have a chance.
2) My application package this time around included the following:
- application
- cover letter translated to German describing myself and saying very nice things about the Swiss
- original english of above
- recommendation letter from my boss in German
- recommendation letter from local Swiss acquaintance
- credit check letter from kreisburo
- copy of permit
(If posting or delivering rather than faxing, I would have attached a business card.)
Cheers,
HB
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