Guide
Service charges.
What may appear on the statement.
Service charges are the actual costs of services related to the flat. Which of them you pay is set by the tenancy agreement.
As of 20 October 20264 sections · approx. 1 min
What you can do now
In short
The essentials in three sentences
- Only what is listed individually as service charges in the tenancy agreement may be charged.
- With advance payments, there is a statement at least once a year, and you may see the receipts.
- With a flat rate there is neither a statement nor an additional payment.
What is included
Typical are heating and hot water, water and sewage, waste, caretaking, common-area electricity and stairwell cleaning. Not included are repairs and renewals, nor interest on and depreciation of the building – they are part of the net rent.
How to check the statement
- Does each item match the tenancy agreement?
- Is the billing period right, and are your advance payments correct?
- How were costs split – by floor area, flats or consumption?
- Are there striking jumps compared with the previous year?
- Anything unclear: ask for the receipts, in writing.
Frequently asked questions
- By when do I have to pay an additional amount?
- Within the agreed period, usually 30 days. If anything is unclear, ask for the receipts first and state in writing what you object to.
- Can I claim back what I overpaid?
- Yes, but not indefinitely: claims for repayment become time-barred. So get in touch soon if something seems wrong.
Legal basis
Art. 257a and 257b CO, Art. 4 to 8 VMWG (Art. 6: what does not count as service charges).
Guidance, not legal advice. In a dispute, the tenants' association or your canton's conciliation authority can help.