Guide
Handover.
What you have to pay when you move out – and what not.
At the return, the landlord inspects the flat. What you sign and what comes afterwards affects your deposit and costs.
As of 20 October 20264 sections · approx. 1 min
What you can do now
In short
The essentials in three sentences
- You do not have to pay for normal wear and tear.
- The landlord must inspect for defects at the return and report them to you immediately; what is missed can only be claimed later for hidden defects.
- For damage you pay at most the current value of the item, not the price of a new one.
Before the handover
- Clean thoroughly, including the oven, windows, blinds and cellar.
- Do the small repairs that are your responsibility as a tenant.
- Have the move-in report ready – what is written there was already there.
- If needed, bring someone along as a witness.
The handover report
Only sign what is correct. If you do not agree with a point, write that in the report. By signing "I will cover the costs" you acknowledge a debt – you do not have to decide that on the spot.
Frequently asked questions
- What counts as normal wear and tear?
- Traces of ordinary living: walls slightly yellowed after a few years, a usual number of plug holes, carpets worn at the end of their lifespan.
- How is the current value calculated?
- From the lifespan and age of the item, according to the joint lifespan table. The "Current value" tool calculates it for you.
Legal basis
Art. 267 and 267a CO (return, inspection, notice of defects), joint lifespan table (HEV, MV, SVIT, SVV), 2021 edition.
Guidance, not legal advice. In a dispute, the tenants' association or your canton's conciliation authority can help.