Originally Posted by
BigGeordie
If you don't take the company housing when you join you can never take it. My advice is to start off in company accommodation while you get to know the city and decide where you want to live. Then move out.
This worked for us. We now deal with an Egyptian landlord with a penchant for Swiss chocolates that has saved us several 000 in rent as we increase his massive girth at rent renewal time. Bid for ZRH or GVA and go to a Denner Supermarket.
It's not a perfect relationship but preferable to dealing with the "professionals" in HQ.
I have reliable stories that the HQ gang don't even know what properties are empty.
Buying is also possible with the Allowance. We weren't brave/clever/stupid enough to do that.