Key aspects of tenancy law

Who’s to blame if the postie slips over? And when on earth is your neighbour going to give it a rest with all that leaf blowing?

There are few things more irritating than being woken by noisy neighbours. But how much do you actually have to put up with and at what point are you allowed to do something about it?

Many tenants pay high utility bills. Some pay as much as 2'000 francs a year. Most just pay without complaining, but as a tenant, it would be very helpful to know what one’s legal rights are in this tangle of bills and contracts.

Defects and renovation works are long-running topics of conversation in everyday home life. Yet from a legal perspective, landlords are required only to fix actual technical defects; there is no right to renovation and improvement of the property. Everything else is a common misconception.

Moving to a new home is exciting. Until you have to deal with issues such as construction defects or delays. As a tenant, it is important that you are aware of your rights. Contracts and agreements are crucial in this regard.

Who hasn’t longed for freshly painted walls or a new fridge when doing a bit of spring cleaning? Many tenants think that after a certain period of time, they are entitled to renovation or improvement of their rental property. But legally speaking, it’s quite a different matter.

Tired of barking dogs, screaming children or loud parties going on until 4 am the next morning? When people in your building are really getting under your skin, it can be hard to know how to resolve the situation. We’re here to explain the legal situation and what works in practice.

When a building is refurbished from the ground up, it can be expensive – not only for the owner, but also for the tenants. But it’s not legal to increase the rent to reflect the full costs. We explain the legal situation and provide some tips on the right procedure to follow.

There’s nothing more annoying than a New-build delay of your new home – especially if you have already ended your old tenancy agreement. What do you do if your new home is not yet ready to move into?

This issue affects landlords and tenants equally. Is it OK for tenants to smoke in their rental unit? Or just what is allowed, and what is prohibited?

Are landlords allowed to have a duplicate key for their temant’s home? The legal situation is clear. Whoever rents an apartment has no right to retain a key to the flat. Tenants, on the other hand, have good reasons to deposit a duplicate key anyway.

This article will tell you everything tenants and landlords need to know about trash disposal and recycling.