Hi Folk,

So following advise I got here, I discovered that portable split ACs exist in Switzerland (they are the same as a proper AC, but without installation). And I found some that have over 20K BTU, which is powerful enough.

The problem is that when I went viewing apartments, and asked landlords about it, they had no idea what this is, and due to them not understanding and prefering to live a simple life, chose other tenants.

The question is - should I even ask them? These devices require no modification of the home at all, are fully portable, and I found some that are quiet. Not to mention that some of the places I view make it easy to hide them from naighboors.

So do I even need their permission to use one?
If I do use one without asking them, and they object, what would happen? Am I able to stand my ground on this and refuse to remove it due to it not altering the apartment? What would be the consequence (including possible escalation) of such a situation?

Why would you need permission to use a portable AC unit that requires no installation? How would they even know you were using one?

I mean seriously, I am surprised after being turned down for multiple apartmets you hadn't figured this out already, but use some common sense and don't ask them again because lots of people in CH use them in apartments during peak summer when temperatures can get unbearable.

Well, I am a very upfront person, I was trying to be transperant with them.

I guess I should keep my mouth shut?
What actually happens if they serve notice? I thought that usually there are specific dates where I can leave and need to give notice ahead of time, unless I find substitute tenants. So by the same logic - it would take them a long while to get rid of me, right? And by then summer will be over, so there is no real point in them serving notice as by the time it'll take effect the AC won't be in use?

Yes you should keep your mouth shut. They have as little say on your portable AC as they have on whether you have TV, a laptop, a bed, or a pair of stools.

At my last place we had the portable type with the sleeve that attaches to the window so you can vent the hose out. We were on the 5th floor under a boiling hot roof terrace and never had any complaints about noise, then again we lived opposite a red light area and nobody in the building could sleep anyway.

We used to put it on for a few hours in the evening and close the bedroom door, switching it off at bedtime. It let us sleep with the windows closed as the room was cool.

The apartment we live in now was built in 2018 and has geothermal underfloor heating and an air cooling/circulation system. However, we did ask the property co what the position was on having portable aircon and they said it was fine as long as the noise didn't cause disturbance. We haven't needed to use it here.

Does everybody know what a split AC is? It requires quite a large device to be mounted on the outside of the building. I'm not sure about the noise, but it certainly looks unsightly and I wouldn't be that keen on my neighbours having one.


It's not like a TV, bed etc because it is mounted outside the building.

She very likely just used the wrong terminology:

If something needs to be mounted externally then it requires installation. All she needs is a portable one.

I get your good and honest intentions, but in this case they are unnecessary and it it's losing you apartments you need to not do it.

You are not going to get served notice for occasionally using a portable AC during Summer, many people do it.

If they're unhappy they could give you notice to leave the property, i.e. end the rental agreement.

Unless they are paying for the electricity or the unit is disturbing other tenants I can’t see them having a problem. But if the noise causes complaints you might have to stop using it.

no


...but you need to be sure that it won't disturb anyone.


BTW they're similar, not the same, with one important difference but you know that already.