I moved into a rented villa on 1st July. Received a bill of the same date for maintenance of the heating system. The boiler etc has a logbook showing that the last maintenance was Nov 2018.

So I write to the regie, saying
A: I shouldn't be responsible to maintain the system before I even move in.
B: The work has not even been done.

They reply that it's correct, the work will be done next year..

Ever heard of such a thing? Sounds like total nonsense to me.

Tell them to stuff it

forward the bill to the regie as they will have to pay anyway.

It's from the Regie!

It's in my contract that I need to do standard maintenance of the heating every couple of years, that's fine and normal.
But this bill is for a precise amount, like 449.76chf .. And they say the work will be done next year. I don't understand how they know what it will cost next year or why i should pay it now, in advance.

The regie writes me in email, i've told her to send me this in a letter and I'll take to the renters assoc.

They're being dishonest. It does happen here despite people saying it doesn't.

Don't pay but do tell them not to be so ridiculous and not to take you for a fool.

(Some people really do need to be told).

Exactly . The simple fact that the bill is for an exact amount says to me that something was probably done, somewhere. They are trying to pin it on me.

It's been to-and-fro over email.
Me : I query this bill, no work has been done since 2018, I hadn't even moved in when you sent the bill.
Reg : Yes it's for next year, it's your bill.
Me : So I pay now for some work next year.
Reg : Yes it's normal.
Me : But how do you know what it will even cost next year.
Reg : That's in all the contracts.

Me: Ok just put this in writing to me, I'll go check it with asloca.

What is the exact wording in your contract? Normally this is not something the tenant has to pay for, all you would normally have to do is small repairs and keep the system clean.

And paying now for something that might be done next year is ridiculous. have them bill you after they did their work, not your problem what the landlord decides to sign up for.

The standard forum response in these cases seem to be usually "Oh, just pay it, it's easier/cheaper for you.

And people wonder why this sort of thing goes on....

I'll dig it out over the weekend.. But yeah it's something like the annual clean / decalc / check is for the tenant.. Break down, failure etc is for the landlord.


Yeah I'd suck up 20chf .. But it's nearly 450chf and i just feels wrong.

I know that if I pay it now, there will be another bill for the same thing next year.

A visit to ASLOCA is free.. The email trail has now gone quiet since i mentioned that.

They’re being ridiculous.
They obviously stuffed up and forgot to bill the previous tenant so they’re trying to palm it off onto you.
Nobody pays over a year in advance for a service.

It is just possible that they have taken a maintenance contract out with a specific company but if that’s the case it should be clearly stated on the invoice on and it would be very unusual to be billed that far in advance and for such a specific amount.
If it is an annual fee then they have presumably reimbursed the previous tenants and are now claiming it from you but they need to provide you with documentation to show exactly what you are paying for.

It sounds like there is a maintenance contract for the system, which is why it is a fixed amount payable in advance, and the owner/agent would like you to pay it.

We have the same. We own the property. We pay an annual fee. The technician comes every 2 years (or in the meantime if there is an incident). There is no connection between any visit date and the date of the payment.

I know that they are down-right dishonest.. Which adds to my annoyance.

Previous tenant called this week to ask if a new piece had been installed in the kitchen, yes we said, on the day we moved in it was installed..July.. Why .

Oh because the regie is withholding our deposit until the they get some quotes and get that work done.

They don't realize that people talk to each other

As it is a bill and they could file a poursuite for not paying...You might want to send a letter to them detailing that you expect a written explanation of the charges within 15 days, which you will then take to Asloca for consideration before you pay. Even if it turns out you must pay, you could probably pay into a blocked account until the dispute is resolved.

It's common to have a service subscription for the heating system, usually with the company that installed it. The contract is often for a predetermined amount with small repairs caused by wear and tear included. So they may indeed know the precise amount already.

Anyway, make sure you know what it is for. Regular service and maintenance, repair, chimney sweep, whatever. Full amount or the annual share for the expected full amount of the biannual work or whatever.

But there's no reason at all to pay now, don't pay until after the works' been completed to your satisfaction.

Since you don't trust the regie you may want to check who to pay to as per the contract. After all everybody can bill anybody for anything they please.

You might also ask the previous tenant, since you have contact with him/her, whether they were ever required to pay such a bill, and if so, when and for what.

Well the threat of ASLOCA triggered the letter with the explanation..

Indeed it is a maintenance contract for the year.. I'm fine with that, at least I know that's it for the heating ..

I still have a long list for asloca so I'll go anyway..