Well its well known in Geneva, if you move in, you must ensure during your review of the property that the agent or other is making full notes of anything you find. Lets say scratches on walls or paiting, cables excposed, bad kitchen veltilation. You must ensure every little thing is noted, because if not, later the regie can say its cause during your occupation of the unit, and is to be fixed or repaired to the 'same state' as when you moved in. 

(so for warning to all future rentors, ensure you get a full list of items on the move-in sheet, and have the Regie and yourself sign it, only after your sure. And if you find withing a month other issues, you must notify the agency/regie immediatly. 

To be safe, I highly suggest you to get membership with Asloca Immediatly, costs like CHF 50- and they can review the letter, advise and help with disputes.

This is my best advice , I been in Geneva since 1995 so I am very aware of the rental enviroment.

Good luck.

Dave,

Thanks for the response. I should have mentioned we've been in the apartment for over 10 years with no renovations done. So it's a bit of a mystery to us what needs to be repaired.

The obvious problem is the bathroom floor, which was noted on the etat de lieu when we moved in but never fixed. We were a little puzzled when he didn't note it in the preliminary etat de lieu last week.

Yes..you're absolutely right about ASLOCA. We are members. Save having to go back and forth to a lawyer for suspicions I might have, I was hoping someone could tell me if it was normal  to have SO LITTLE mentioned on the preliminary exit. Perhaps I'm just being paranoid. 

Thanks again!