Hodel Beat AG — Längmatt 6, 6218 Ettiswil, Switzerland

There are landlords who passionately invest in the upkeep of their properties. And then there are landlords with unparalleled tenacity who avoid any form of investment. Welcome to the fascinating world of "It is what it is. It stays what it is." Even upon entering the apartment, it's clear that not much has changed since the turn of the millennium. A faucet from the last century is a reminder of bygone times. Why spend money when the tenant can struggle with it? After all, the tenant is expected to keep the apartment spotless. What are a few hundred francs for a new faucet compared to the dedication of the tenant, who willingly cleans every nook and cranny? And as if that weren't enough, there are the pitfalls in the fine print of the lease – the final cleaning of the dishwasher. A glance at the Swiss Code of Obligations reveals, however, that such agreements are prohibited according to Article 267, Paragraph 2. But hey, who needs legal clarity when you can keep the tenant busy with dubious demands? But that's not all. When the tenant gives notice to the landlord, they receive a multi-page document with an extensive list of cleaning requests. During the apartment handover, these "cleaning requests" are meticulously checked, and if anything doesn't meet the landlord's expectations, they'll demand compensation. A lucrative source of income, true to the motto "every penny counts." Looking at the overall picture, inexperienced tenants are certainly welcome. A shrewd strategy, but one that leaves a bad taste in the mouth. At this point, I would strongly recommend that every prospective tenant photograph every detail when taking possession of the apartment. Yes, even the specks of dust deserve attention. Because you never know what absurd demands might be made at the end of the tenancy. Perhaps we didn't clean perfectly and may have even forgotten to photograph the apartment's condition down to the smallest detail upon handover. Given these circumstances, I don't want to make a recommendation for or against it. At this point, I would strongly advise every prospective tenant to photograph every detail when taking possession of the apartment. But one thing is certain: understanding for uncomplicated, punctual paying and conscientious tenants is definitely nowhere to be found.

Norm Ali