Getting the tenant's agreement, or even a financial contribution, for any work that may need to be carried out, getting the tenant's deposit back after the inventory of fixtures and fittings at the end of the tenancy, being granted a deferment of payment of the rent in the event of temporary difficulties;lai de paiement de loyer en casé passagère… autant de bonnes raisons pour un locataire d’entretenir de bonnes relations avec son propriétaire.
The best way for a tenant to stay on good terms with their landlord is to pay their rent within the time specified on the tenancy agreement. If the landlord has to remind you every month because he hasn't paid his rent, your relationship is likely to be strained. Ideally, the tenant can schedule a monthly transfer to avoid forgetting or being late. There will be no nasty surprises for the landlord, who will be reassured by this regularity.
The property belongs to the landlord and the tenant cannot therefore carry out any works or renovations without seeking the landlord's approval. So if you want to let your flat in Geneva or elsewhere in Switzerland, you need to obtain the landlord's written consent. A coat of white paint won't be held against you, but removing carpeting to install new floor covering is more problematic.
Ensuring decent relations with your landlord also involves maintaining good neighbourly relations. If residents of other flats in the building complain about the way your home is managed, your relationship with the landlord could also deteriorate. This will be all the more true if your neighbours are also tenants linked to the same landlord.
While the rent is often a priority for the owner, who has managed to make monthly loan repayments, the good condition of the flat is also very important. Taking care of it is therefore a good way of maintaining good relations. This starts with keeping the property in good condition, i.e. carrying out the minor repairs that are the tenant's responsibility, and keeping the premises clean. When a property is not working properly or has deteriorated, it is better to inform the landlord beforehand than to let the situation deteriorate and have the landlord notice the damage when you leave.
We have certainly just advised you to contact the landlord in the event of a problem, but beware of over-solicitation. It is not always necessary to contact the landlord. In some cases, you should call the property management company. Also, there's no point in calling the landlord in about blocked drains before you've even emptied the siphon, for example.
If, despite this advice, your relationship with the landlord goes sour, you can always renegotiate your lease and use SherlockHomes à both to find a replacement tenant and search for a new rental à Genève, Bâle, Bern or Zurich.
This article is not exhaustive and the author accepts no responsibility for it.
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