Additional costs in Switzerland — which costs are allowed?
What are additional costs? - The definition
Additional costs are costs associated with the use of the rented apartment. This includes heating and hot water costs, for example. In Switzerland, these are usually charged as an advance payment and settled annually. They cover additional costs arising from using an apartment or house and vary depending on the region and type of apartment. The additional costs are regulated in the rental agreement and listed transparently in the utility bill, which is sent to tenants once a year.
Account vs. package
The majority of additional costs are made as an advance payment. This means that tenants pay a constant amount in advance every month. The landlord prepares a detailed statement annually and a refund or an additional payment is made.
A lump sum is charged monthly for ancillary charges. In this case, however, the risk of cost fluctuation is borne by the landlord; the tenant does not receive an annual statement and does not have to make any back payments, even if the additional costs are higher than the payments were.
Which sidesAre ten allowed?
According to tenancy law, ancillary costs are permitted that relate directly to the maintenance and use of the property. The most common types of additional charges include:
- heating and hot water: Costs for heating materials and maintenance of the heating system.
- Home maintenance and garden maintenance: Maintenance and care of shared outdoor and indoor areas.
- Community flow: Lighting in common areas such as stairwells and laundry rooms.
- Sewage and waste disposal: Regular disposal costs and, if applicable, sewer fees.
- lift maintenance: Operating costs and maintenance of the lift.
- Winter maintenance and snow removal: Seasonal maintenance for safety on roads and driveways.
In addition, the ancillary costs include administrative costs of approximately 3 to 5% , which, however, must also be documented in the rental agreement.
Which additional costs are prohibited?
Costs associated with structural changes or modernizations of the property are not billable as additional costs. These include:
- Renovations and alterations: Costs for new windows or thermal insulation must not be apportioned to ancillary costs.
- Administration fees and insurance premiums: Administrative costs in addition to the above mentioned 3-5% and building insurance are covered by the rent payment.
- Taxes and duties: Duties for the owner, such as property taxes, are not chargeable additional costs.
If such items are nevertheless listed, tenants should report the statement to the administration.
Check and complain about utility bills
The annual utility bill should be comprehensible and clearly structured for the tenant. The following are important:
- Review of the billing period: Tenants should ensure that costs are only calculated for the agreed period.
- Distribution key control: The distribution of costs, for example by square meters or number of residents, must be correct.
- Comparison with previous statements: Larger fluctuations should be understandable and comprehensible.
When are back payments due?
If an additional payment is necessary, this must usually be paid within 30 days be settled. There is no set appeal period, but tenants can pay the statement up to 5 years retroactively Contest.
Payment on account and additional costs when moving
In order to avoid unexpectedly high back payments, it is important to Payment on account to be checked regularly and, if necessary, to adjust. You can ask the administration for an increase in monthly payments if you expect additional costs to increase (e.g. if energy costs rise) .In the event of a Moving During the billing period, tenants are not entitled to an interim statement. You must wait until the regular statement is created, which can result in a split between moving out and subsequent tenants.
The ancillary cost regulation in Switzerland is clearly structured and a detailed review of the statement can help identify illegal items and keep your own financial burden manageable.
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