Rent termination: That’s what it’s all about
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In Zurich, tenants at Neugasse 81, 83 and 85 have to leave their apartments due to renovations.
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The dismissals led to great outrage.
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The HEV explains renovations for energy reasons.
On Tuesday, over 105 tenants received bad news. The tenants in the properties at Neugasse 81, 83 and 85 in Zurich have to leave their homes in three months. The administration cites a total renovation as the reason.
There was great outrage, including in the 20 Minutes community. Markus Meier, director of the homeowners association (HEV), comments on the dispute between tenants and landlords.
How do you as a homeowners association react to the outrage when tenants are given notice of termination, as was the case during the total renovation in Zurich?
Markus Meier: We are not the right people to contact for this property. This is about institutional landlords; owners of such properties are not typical HEV members.
But doesn’t such news generally make landlords, including many HEV members, appear in a bad light?
It’s understandable that tenants don’t like being evicted. But I resist putting the homeowners in a dirty corner. Landlords don’t renovate properties for returns. Owners are responsible for keeping the buildings in good condition. The property may then be temporarily unusable and this may lead to termination. But this is not unfair dismissal.
Why is it legitimate to carry out renovations and get the most out of your properties?
It’s not about the optimum, but above all about the energy regulations that owners have to comply with. The building park plays a major role in Strategy 2050.
What communication do you recommend to your members when canceling?
We generally recommend talking to each other early on. But we don’t give a handbook for renovations. That always depends on the individual case.
Where is the limit for HEV, where would you stop homeowners?
That is not within our competence. We offer advice. The responsibility lies with the landlord or the owner. Ownership brings with it responsibility and authority.
Criticism is also increasing because of the housing shortage. What has this changed for the HEV?
The housing shortage is a fact. Too little has been built in recent years given the population growth. In addition, many households are becoming smaller and require more living space overall. Everyone wants to live as close as possible to where they work. But no one has the legal right to live in a prime location, for example in Zurich.
What is HEV’s recipe for combating the housing shortage?
More living space is needed to balance demand and supply so that the market can function.
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