- Autumn foliage and leaf blowers – what’s the best way of dealing with them?
- Night-time noise restrictions in Switzerland – what’s allowed and what’s not
- Utility Costs: “What do I really have to pay?”
- Renovating apartments
- Your rights: Construction Defects in New Housing
- As a tenant, am I entitled to demand renovation work?
- What to do when neighbours are causing trouble
- Energy-efficient refurbishment: Rent increase?
- New-build delay: what should you do?
- Smoking in Your Rented Apartment
- Duplicate key for the landlord – allowed or not?
- Trash disposal: Rights and obligations
- How much noise should children be able to make?
- Verbal rental agreements – what to watch out for
- Snow Removal – who is Responsible?
- Challenging your rent: “What are my rights?”
- Share Wi-Fi: With your neighbor on the Web
- Drying laundry indoors – what is allowed?
- What is allowed in the stairwell?
- What happens after the death of a tenant?
- Painting walls in a rented property: allowed?
- Rental contract
- Monthly rent
- Notice of termination by the tenant
- Notice of termination by the landlord
- Wear and tear
- Minor repairs
- Additional expenses
Minor repairs
By law and according to the rental contract, the tenant is responsible for «minor repairs». These include cleaning and improvements required for normal maintenance which a tenant of average abilities can carry out himself. In this regard, the limits are a subject of debate.
A rule of thumb says that the costs for small improvements may not exceed a reference value of CHF 150 per repair. A list of such work is generally found in the general terms and conditions of the rental contract. This may not, however, lead to the situation where the tenant is obliged to take over costs that go well beyond the legal framework.
What are «minor repairs»?
«Minor repairs» include:
- replacing broken bathroom toothbrush glasses, leaky shower hoses, broken soap dishes, defective belts on roller shutters, electrical switches and sockets, plastic baskets in the dishwasher as well as baking sheets.
- replacing fuses
- repairing or replacing broken door locks
- proper sealing of gas and water cocks
- replacing packing in water faucets
- snow and ice removal on the balcony and terrace
Obligatory for every tenant
Before moving out of an apartment, all improvements that fall under the heading «minor repairs» must be carried out. Otherwise they can be billed to the tenant by the landlord. When moving into an apartment, you can demand that the landlord make small improvements and fix any defects.