Hi all,

I moved into an old apartment last week.

Something in the apartment is irritating my throat.

I started by hoovering and washing everything to see if it was dust. There was no significant improvement so the probable culprit is mold(?) I took some things apart yesterday to try to find signs but there is nothing, so I am now thinking this issue could be out of sight i.e it could be behind the walls.

I will buy an air filter as an interim solution and hope that this might improve things but I would like to get to the underlying cause. Does anyone know of companies in Zurich that would visit my apartment and assess this issue?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Did they repaint before you took over the apartment? If so, maybe you have some sensitivity?

Carpets in the apartment? Were they cleaned recently?

Yes painted, dont think that I am sensitive (at least I haven't been in the past).

No carpet..

Just in case the issue gets worse, join the local Mietverband asap. It is very cheap and they have tons of experience, clout and will act on your behalf.

Just can't understand anyone renting in Switzerland without being a member (Asloca in Romandie).

Is it possible that what you are feeling is not 'just' a throat irritation?

The cold/flu/whatever seasonal illness that is going round right now often starts with a sore or scratchy throat. I had about 10 days of a sore(ish) throat, then full on flu.

Is it possible you might be coming down with something else?

But in any case, and especially if it's an environmental allergy, you might consider seeing a doctor if symptoms persist.

Thanks for your reply Odile but there is no problem with the landlord. He wasn't aware of any issue, I checked with old tenant, she never had this problem but she also doesn't have a dust allergy so I think he had no way to know about this.

At the moment I suspect it is fungus but there is no evidence of it which is why I would like to find a specialist (if there is such a thing)..

Googled it 4U:
http://www.smgv.ch/download-pdf/baue...h-plz-2017.pdf

http://www.smgv.ch/de/bauen-und-reno...lpilzsanierung

https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/de/home...hnraeumen.html

What about an allergy you haven't been aware yet, or you're developing?

Perhaps ask your predecessor if s/he has a pet, and check yourself for sensitivity if possible.

Or could be mites or some other critter you're a bit more sensitive to than your predecessor.

Here is the thing, it could be 100 things, I really have no idea. Will try the companies which robBob helpfully provided and report back if I ever find out.

The cleaning materials used before you moved in can be very harsh.

Might also be worth asking if they used an exterminator before you moved in.
I was really ill after one of our rental properties was exterminated.

I managed to rent for 19 years 11 months without ever having a dispute of any kind, so I never needed to be a member. I also never needed to claim on 3rd party insurance despite installing a washing machine without permission
I guess some people are very complicated & will make a mountain out of a molehill.

Uhm. I think you're jumping to quite interesting conclusions. This could be anything, a cold, some other allergy, sensitivity (even if a new one). Mold certainly wouldn't be my first thought if I had a scratchy throat.

See a doctor first to find out what it could be and exclude all other possible explanations. Failing that, you can look into other options. Why would you waste money on some assessment that will probably not be necessary?

Unfortunately, 100s of posts on EF show that problems with landlords and rented properties occur far too reguarly- so a very small sum per year to Mietverband/Asloca seems like a great investment, just in case. They will prioritise existing members, quite fairly- so if I ever needed to rent- I'd happily pay to be a member.

Last time I was a rentor was in 1972, in the UK - and never ever in Switzerland- so no part of my experience either. But the stories that come up again and again on EF seem to indicate they are not rare - and most of the time not molehills. In this case- the Jury is out ...

Newly painted walls are a problem for air quality, look no further and try to keep windows opened when you are not home.

OP, do you see change during the day? For instance scratchy throat when you get up, less so during the day while at work? If it's the other way round the source is probably be outside of the apartment.
The posts you see on here are anything but representative. Those rents that run well and/or end smoothly don't cause people to post.

With about 2.2mln renting households (60% of 3.7mln) a sizeable number's bound to go wrong, but most probably that's still just a tiny fraction.

Not really. This is a skewed perception as only complaints are brought to your or anyone's attention, not praise or positive or at the very least neutral feedback. I rented for over 15 years and have not once had any (relevant) problem with any landlord or property, and I can't remember anyone in my closer circle of friends to ever report a relevant issue either. Which of course is only personal viewpoint/experience too, but so are all the seemingly far too regular complaints.



Edit - crossed with Urs Max' comment.

Be certain to buy an air filter that filters well enough to get the spores out of the air, since those are smaller to much smaller than normal dust particles. A standard filter of 50,- will do nothing for this.

(but you might want to have your air tested first before possibly wasting money)

My friend once lived in an old flat with dust issues. It turned out that the particles were coming from the ceiling. Her son had rashes until they moved out. He never had a rash again.

Good point Samaire and Urs - just like for most insurances. The cost of being a member is VERY small, and imho, really worth it, just in case. I'd say this is even ore so for ayone whose German/French... is not up to a 'battle'. Legal advice in Switzerland, if required, is VERY expensive.

And good news, it is now free to the end of the year, then 100CHF for the first year, and 90 after that.

https://www.mieterverband.ch/mv-zh/mitgliedschaft.html.