The popularly known “Sugus” houses in Zurich’s district 5 are popular because of their central location and are considered inexpensive. For 100 tenants in three of the nine buildings on the Röntgenareal, these advantages have now come to an abrupt end. They have to move out by the end of March 2025. The owner of the three properties wants to carry out a total renovation. The Watson news portal was the first to report on the case on Tuesday.
Affected person about the termination: “The total shock”
SRF has received the letter from the responsible administration, Allgood Property AG, dated November 26th. It states that in-depth repair work on the houses built at the end of the 1990s is “unavoidable”. The owner decided that.
The letter from Allgood Property AG to the residents of Neugasse 81, 83 and 85 in the city of Zurich.
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A resident who spoke to Radio SRF also received a notice of termination. Michael Müller (name changed) has lived in the settlement for ten years. “On Monday afternoon the postman rang and everyone had to go down. At first we thought it was a rent increase. But then we realized it was a termination.” The people were stunned. Some just cried, Müller told Radio SRF. “It’s total shock.” In total, over 250 people are likely to be affected by the dismissal.
The letter from the administration states that, for example, kitchens and bathrooms need to be renewed. Floor plan changes would also be made. Müller contradicts the administration’s presentation to SRF. “We were told that the houses were in an ‘unsustainable condition’ that the tenants could not be expected to live in – but that is not true at all. Everything is fine here.”
Written statement from Allgood Property AG
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“The properties at Neugasse 81 I 83 I 85 in 8005 Zurich were taken over by new ownership on November 26, 2024. Previously, the assessment of the building structure revealed that the condition of the properties required comprehensive core renovation. The unsatisfactory living situation is no longer acceptable to the tenants. The apartment buildings must be completely renovated in order to be able to provide them with a sustainable and ecological future.
Deep repair work is essential.
These are:
- Replacement of old kitchens and bathrooms
- Floor plan changes will be adapted to current demand
- Replacement of all pipe installations
- Renewal of old wall and floor coverings including the entire staircase
- Ecological and energy-saving modernizations
The renovation work is expected to begin in spring 2025. Unfortunately, this will lead to the termination of the entire tenants of the properties at Neugasse 81, 83 and 85, subject to the notice period in accordance with the rental agreement. Due to the urgent need for action, this is unavoidable.”
What particularly annoys those affected is that the administration apparently communicated differently in September – namely that no total renovation was planned, but that minor adjustments would probably lead to an increase in rent.
Tenants’ association criticizes empty notice
Dealing with the termination at the end of March 2025 was “totally overwhelming,” says the father of two. “It won’t be possible to find anything until then.”
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Legend:
Anyone who regularly takes the train to Zurich has probably already seen them: the yellow, orange or green houses just before the main train station. The striking buildings are also popularly known as “Sugus” houses because of their colors.
SRF
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Legend:
The architect Leopold Bachmann is behind the striking buildings. (Image: October 28, 2000)
KEYSTONE/Martin Ruetschi
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Legend:
According to the NZZ, Bachmann paid 19.3 million francs for the area in 1998 to the then owner, the SBB. The construction costs amounted to 95 million francs. (Image: October 28, 2000)
KEYSTONE/Martin Ruetschi
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Legend:
In interviews from the turn of the millennium, Leopold Bachmann explained that he wanted to build cost-effectively. (Image: October 28, 2000)
KEYSTONE/Martin Ruetschi
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Legend:
The “Sugus” houses were completed in 2000. (Image: October 28, 2000)
KEYSTONE/Martin Ruetschi
Larissa Steiner from the Zurich Tenants Association also sees it that way. She speaks of a “very shocking case”. The notice of termination was given at very short notice – namely with the statutory minimum notice period of three months. “The tenants received notice of termination at the beginning of December at the end of March. That gives you a good three months to find an alternative. That is absolutely impossible.”
According to the lawyer, unfair dismissals are generally permitted in restructuring projects. However, an inspection of the affected apartments showed that they were not in a condition that required renovation. The question arises as to whether there is simply “greed for profit” behind the maneuver.
Administration publishes pictures as evidence of compulsion to act
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Later on Wednesday afternoon, Allgood Property will publish pictures on its website that are intended to show the condition of the apartments. It’s called “The bitter truth…”
It is still unclear how expensive the apartments will be after the renovation. A representative of Simo Immobilien AG, which is responsible for managing the other houses on the Röntgenareal, explains to SRF that the rental prices for the 1.5 to 5.5 room apartments will be between CHF 1,000 and CHF 2,300.
The solidarity among the affected residents is huge, says Michael Müller. We help each other and are now considering legal and political steps.
No total renovation in the remaining “Sugus” houses
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Not all residents of the X-ray area face the same fate. This has to do with the ownership structure of the “Sugus” houses. The total of nine houses belong to three different people. Only one opted for total renovation.
The manager of the other six houses on the Röntgenareal, Simo Immobilien GmbH, states on its website that it is the wish of the two owners to “preserve the quality of living and affordability”. Repairs and maintenance should continue to be carried out promptly in the future.
Collaboration: Mayra Schmidt, Andrea Thurnherr
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