You have just sent the landlord a letter terminating the tenancy agreement. Before looking for accommodation, it's a good idea to find out what the outgoing tenant's duties are. Because to make sure you get your deposit back, a few things need to be done generally…
Before the departure inventory of fixtures and fittings, the tenant must identify as objectively as possible what is normal wear and tear and what is excessive wear and tear. Normal wear and tear corresponds to the careful use of the item in question. To assess this, we need to take into account the time spent in the property and the accommodation's capacity. Naturally, a person who spends a year in a studio apartment is expected to use the flat less than a family of five who have occupied the property for 10 years. It is therefore accepted that the condition of the property will be poorer after several years' renting. To help you distinguish between the two concepts and understand what the landlord expects the tenant to do in terms of works, here are a few examples. It will be acceptable for a landlord to find walls that are a little yellowed with age, with frame marks on the walls. The same goes for micro-scratches on the induction hob or advanced wear on the carpet. On the other hand, if the walls have been scratched by cats, if the induction hob no longer works or if the carpet has stains on it, this will be considered excessive wear and tear by the landlord. There are two solutions: the landlord can either deduct all or part of the deposit to have the necessary work done, or ask you to repair the stains yourself.
When the termination of the tenancy agreement comes to fruition, the tenant is looking to return his deposit and the landlord is looking to ensure that his property is returned in good condition. In order to prevent the owner of the property from noting any abnormal deterioration, the tenant should start by restoring the state of the property at the time of entry, in order to compare the initial state with the current state. To do this, we strongly recommend that you do a thorough clean-up the day before the inspection. Having emptied the property will give you a better idea of what could be problematic and will make any work necessary. Holes that have been drilled to hang mirrors, picture frames or tags, for example, often need to be filled in. If your child has crayoned the walls, or if cigarette smoke has yellowed the walls excessively, applying a coat of white paint will also be advisable.
And among the duties of the outgoing tenant, there’s minor maintenance work. Tightening screws, unclogging kitchen and bathroom drains are jobs that can be done quickly and easily. Failure to do so could cost the tenant dearly. If you feel that the landlord is not acting in good faith when it comes time to draw up an inventory of fixtures at the end of the lease, you should be aware that you are under no obligation to sign the document. Note that these issues of work and relations between landlord and tenant should not make you forget to look for accommodation. To find a flat in Switzerland that's available quickly, check the listings on SherlockHomes.
This article is not exhaustive and the author accepts no responsibility for it.
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