Hi Neil,

There's a tremendous shortage of housing in Geneva. Fresh foreigners are easy targets, your story is practically identical to one my friends endured this summer. I'm very sorry you were duped.

For applications at the regie, it helps if you go beyond the mimimum required documents. Providing a letter of motivation, a letter of good standing from your bank, a reference from an employer or former landlord, a photograph (it's not your face they don't like;-) which will make the regie more inclined to pick you.

If you're stuck for a place to stay until then, have a look in the classifieds section: we're renting out a room in our flat which might see you through until you seal a deal with a regie.

Thanks a lot Numpty (is that your real name)

saw a few apartments today and will apply. Thanks for the response - appreciate the offer.

Neil

Please however keep all and any suggestions coming.

If it all comes together I will share the name of the demon regie.

N

Neil,

Your story is incredible.  The bit about the regie doing nothing etc and then rejecting you is even more scandalous.  The guy who rented you out the place in the beginning was obviously a slimey crook.  The regie is even worse though as they obviously do not know how to manage the property and behaved irresponsibly.   Does the owner of the appartment realize how bad the regie has been in this case?  It is not even sure that the owner was even made aware of your case.  Your file might not even have been provided to him/her in the regie pre-selection process (usually the owner will select a tenant from 3/4 pre-selected choices).    I wonder if Asloca could be of any help (you could at least talk to them even if you are not a member). I don't think you should protect the demon regie in any way.   Surely you don't want to apply through them again!  In fact, I think it would be a great idea if Glocals could set up a ranking forum on regies and other service providers, for that matter, so that people can give their opinion on the service provided.  That might put some pressure on suppliers to behave better.  As the offer is smaller than the demand in the local renting market, the regies are all desperate to get deals or as they call it 'mandates' with owners.    If I was an owner chosing a regie (or thinking of changing my regie), I would be happy if such a ranking system existed.  And happy as a future tenant too.

Well, those are my thoughts.  I wish you good luck.  You will find something better, anyway.

Vanessa

Hey Vanessa,

I like the idea of a name and shame list of regies. However, Regies are there to protect the interests of the owner: they don't give two hoots about the tenants. Tenants will popularize regies who are reactive, who come and replace the dishwasher or fix the lift when it breaks down. These aren't the same regies I would be looking for as an owner, trying to optimise my return on investment.

We're with Bernard Nicod. They moved the fenceposts after we moved in, having raised the rent but not improved the apartment. We know we could go to Asloca, but we also know we'd be blacklisted for any apartments should we need to move in Geneva in the future. Tough call.

Best of luck with your applications Neil.

Asloca is there to protect and help tenants.  Just ask for their advice on tel. 022 716 1800.    You don't need to fear being blacklisted for future opportunities.  What a crazy scenario that would be in a democracy.  You have rights!   There is no harm in just finding out what they are and where they end.   

If I were you, I would also not hesitate writing to the direction of the regie (not the property manager you dealt with but the Direction) expressing your dissatisfaction.  If you put something in writing, you should at least get a written reply.  Even if what they write back isn't worth much, at least you got them to spend some extra time on your case and that will make you feel a little better.  I would also suggest that you write in English - just to make them work harder and bring them down a peg or two.   My experience has also shown that 'the nasty ones' are less haughty in English than in French (because they are less at ease).

Anyway, again, good luck!!!!

Vanessa

Thanks to you both.

Indeed I am planning on giving them once more chance - last night I applied to an apartment with the same Regie making it clear that they have an obligation to me. Although they would not accept that they did promise to come back with an answer early next week (which is fast for them).

If a win win option is out of the question then I will not lose energy over an institutional failure.

cheers - it is Friday and beer is coming.

Neil

Good luck! If all goes well we are expecting a party!!!

Thanks Maria,

if this works I will for sure throw a party. It feels good most of the time when you try to do what is right. However, it seems to me that many of the Regies base their decisions on how much CHF could possibly be squeezed out of us.

I wonder if there is an underground Regie Society secretly sharing files of people who have no choice but to find apartments. Through continual disappointed they hope to bump up the rent prices as well as drain every spare cent we have from our accounts.

Worth a Dan Brown book - instead of The Lost Symbol, it could be The Lost Moral.

Will keep you posted.

Neil

Hey Neil - Sorry about what happened to you. Any good news since Friday??

If you get desperate there is a place just across the border near the airport outside of Geneva in Prevessin Moens France. It is more of an extended stay hotel but they are apartment style and it is about 1800 euros a month for a one or two bedroom.

the website is citea.com and the hotel is citea geneve prevessin.

It is really more of an aprtment complex and they offer weekly maidservice and the places are furnished. Decent for temporary usage and as you are in a pinch you might find it useful.

There is another place from the same company a little further out which is about 20 kim north of Geneva also in France. It is in Divonne Les Baines and the rate is about 1600 a month with it being negotiable for stays of 30 days or longer. The property is a little aesthetically more appealing than Prevessin, but Prevessin is much closer.

It is also on citea.com but the property is Divonne Les Baines.

The area is pretty much directly 3 km west of Coppet if that provides you an idea of about where it is located.

Damn Niel, that is BAD STUFF!

I just forwarded your post to the guy who heads the Association of Regies in Geneva. I hope he decided to add his perspective, and maybe even to propose some tips.

Nir

Thanks to everyone - I appreciate the suggestions.

So far I have seen about 4 apartments in the last few days and applied to them all. One yesterday saw about 100 people (no exaggeration) waiting to be let into a 75m2 place near Rive.

I have been contacted by the government owners of the place I am in now and they have asked me to view a place tomorrow to see if I would be willing to compromise.

In the meantime I will keep looking - and hope that my applications are accepted somewhere.

cheers to all

Wow, I just read your story. That's terrible. The régie is terrible but there is a way to make them smile: bribe them.

I'm not joking.

M.

just reading through your story, something doesn't ring true. the police came in with guns! did you ask for THEIR ID? you say you did all the paperwork (lease etc) and you say the regie didn't know about it.....so why would they change the locks if they haven't been informed about any wrong doing. i think if you have the signed and officially stamped by the canton docs for sub-letting ( which the regie cannot refuse, but they have to sign) you can stay in the apt. in fact, in a sub-letting situation, you only owe the guy who sub-let you the apt. and he is liable for the rent to the regie. not you!!! you should know the law, and your rights before hand. caveat emptor!! you may have been the object of even a greater "acte de théatre" than you have imagined.

Nice picture by the way. Hope the cow is a friend.

The uniformed police arrived hands placed on their guns in their holsters (not drawn). Asking for ID was not necessary as their car with flashing lights was a dead give away.

The contract signed was a bail a louer between me and the tenant.

The regie informed me when I called them that they knew (from the concierge and from previous calls) that i was the 4th person to be hit with the same scam - hence changing the locks would have been a good idea in my view. especially as the apartment is classified HLM (found this out from the Regie).

The asshole I rented from is of course liable for the rent not me. However, I am british and I like to do things above board so despite the regie not being able to charge me rent they have now started to accept it for some reason.

The Regie has started the process of evicting me - although this is a complex and long process. I of course do not intend to move unless I am offered an alternative.

The 100,000 chf plus worth of demands from the poursuitte office was also a dead give away I was being shafted.

At the end of the day I need somewhere to live and to have a place for my 2 little girls when they are with me. I am working on it in a way that I hope will give positive results.

so, you have a lease to sub-let. no need to move out. no need to pay the "crook". you could be having the apt. rent free until he gets evicted. stop paying "rent" to the gerance if you have no contract with them, and they cannot evict you legally, as you are not renting from them. i still don't believe that the "police" came in the apt. especially when you say the lights on their car  were flashing ( anyone can buy flashing lights ) . they would most likely come in an unmarked car, and certainly not attract attention. but in the thick of things, i guess most people would panic and not think clearly. my advice: just stay in the apt. they are hard to come by, and you are in it!! and rent free it appears. wow!

Last comment on this one manly as an update and back to Epicure.

I have been in contact with the owners of the building - CIA, and have agreed that the circumstances are full of bull. They have offered an apartment close to my office which I will now pursue.

In terms of the police, this guy was and remains wanted by the police and has a prison appointment as a result of a judgement in his absence.

In case anyone else is likely o get ass F***ed by this guy his name is Supa.

In my life I have dealt with the kind of events that turn shit white and kitted out for straight jackets. A couple of uniformed police in a marked car are somewhat easy to spot and the stress rating for that event did not even make the needle move.

I do see light at the end of this tunnel, and will come out of this having kept the moral high ground.

Neil, sincerely sorry to hear your story!! That is incredible... Didn't go through all the comments but if you still look for a place, I am leaving mine and plan to pass my resiliation letter with up to 3 applications (which should increase your chances).

Good luck for the rest!

Hi Neil,

What a story!!! If you still need an apartment you can see one ..

It is in the senter of the town-Rue de Florissant( 1 bedroom,living room and kitchen)

You can also have undeground parking place...

Apartment can be  free since 15.12.2009 .

Let me know if you are interested.

Good luck!

Julia

Thanks a lot Julia,

as the story stands today I have been promised an apartment by the owners of the one I am going to be ejected from - the good news is it is managed by a different Regie to the one I am being screwed by.

I have given in my file and am told it is a formality now.

Fingers crossed.

Thanks for the offer though.

Neil

Thanks Réka,

last time I checked most police who are called to a scene turn up in a marked car.

Bon Weekend

BLOODY MIRACLE!!!!!!

After some interesting discussions with some Regies, I have an appartment !!!

Managed to find a great 4 piece available from Feb and only a few mins walk from the Paqui and work.

This time managed to get on the good side of the owner and then the Regie was a formality.

Some advice to others - if you have a good salary and are looking for something modest in size and cost, many of the Regies believe that you are renting it so you can immediately sub-let it out. According to one of the biggest regie offices in town this is a real issue for them.

So if you need to make it clear why this is not you.

I am happy and appreciate all of the comments (well most of them).

Neil

Cingrats Neil!

I'm sorry the story is over, but very happy you found an apartment.

Now it's time to really start enjoying Geneva.

Oded

Congratulations!!

So when is the party??

By the way care to share the size of the place and how much the rent is? I have a friend who is looking for something in that area