It cuts both ways, if the interest rate goes up (unlikely, i know) the landlord can also ask for a rent increase.....


Is it worth rocking the boat for 0.5% interest rate decrease, that is for you t calculate and decide.

I know but it CHF 200 per month almost and that is the reason.

I hear private banker's bonus's are quite high in CH

We recently made a request for a rent reduction as our neighbors mentioned they got one. We've been in our current flat for over 12 years. Our neighbors moved in a few years ago.

We used the boilerplate form to make the request and they just replied saying that they can't make an adjustment because our lease wasn't done with the Referenzzinssatz, but with the Index-Verträge. We weren't aware that there was this differentiation. We wrote back and thanked them for clarifying.

I happened to mention this to someone, and was told that we shouldn't have asked for a reduction because we would labeled as troublemakers and if/when we want to move to another apartment, a new, prospective landlord would be informed that we made this request and our application will be rejected on that basis. Supposedly, this individual knows someone who's been rejected from places numerous times because he requested a rent reduction.

Has this happened to anyone or has anyone ever heard of this happening to someone else? I can understand if someone makes such a request, said request is rejected and then they proceed to badger and harass the landlord. But nothing even remotely resembling that happened here. There was one polite form letter, followed up by a polite thank you for clarifying. Also, I would think our long tenancy here without any issues would be given considerable weight.

Any insights would be appreciated.

__________________
"Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here." ~ Jack Nicholson in As Good As It Gets

They are talking crap and it is common to request the reductions.

Or I'm guessing the person in question made a nuisance out of themselves and ticked off the landlord. But I was told there are others. I can't help but feel like I'm being wound up. I know the Swiss can be a bit picayune, but blacklisting someone for a simple request, which, as you've rightly pointed out, is common, beggars belief.

Totally agree, super common procedure! Don't let that put you off. In the end all these companies are interested in is if you pay the rent on time and don't trash the place - you'd be surprised by what goes on!

Also check your contract to make sure what the company said is correct

Download the Referenzzinssatz template from the Mietverband (you can google it), fill it in using your contract details, and send it. My rent went down from 1750 to 1650 in the last years, and my apartment is now officially silly cheap for the size and location, to the point where I can pay for an expensive parking space every month without flinching. Ignore overly worrisome people who are always paranoid about "rocking the boat" (you honestly don't get far in many areas of life with that kind of lily-livered attitude, as I have happily learnt over the last 10 years) and just formally apply a rent reduction the moment you are entitled to one, because it is more money in the bank every month.

In the unlikely event that you do ever encounter a problem with a stubborn private landlord, then just deal with it politely and firmly by quoting your rights.

I checked our contract, and it confirmed what they wrote. Unfortunately, we're not entitled to any reduction.

I asked for a reduction in my previous flat and got it (it also amounted to 200 CHF a month). I moved after one year to another apartment in a building I have always wanted to move to (new building, better location, true isolation etc). My first application for that apartment was accepted.

In both cases property managements act on behalf on the landlords. The grudge thing might have happened with amateur landlords, imho the worst kind of landlords ;-)

always rent from property managers (but avoid the one starting with G, they manage lousy buildings that they are not prepared to maintain - try living for one year in an apartment next to a busy road with "leaky" windows...)