# Digital Utility Billing for Swiss Landlords

> Canonical: https://www.immo-manage.ch/en/features/service-charge-statement
> Language: en
> Last modified: 2026-11-09

Create accurate utility bills – export as PDF and send directly to your tenants. Following Swiss tenancy law.

## The problem with manual billing

- Hours of spreadsheet work at year-end
- Error-prone calculations across multiple tenants
- Billing pushed back year after year
- Hard to find receipts when tenants dispute

## How it works with ImmoManage

- **Track costs throughout the year**: Enter heating, caretaking, water and other costs directly in ImmoManage – categorized by admissibility.
- **Set the distribution key**: By floor area, by occupants or custom – ImmoManage automatically calculates each tenant's share.
- **Generate PDF and send**: ImmoManage creates a professional bill that you send directly via the tenant portal.

## Legal basis: CO Art. 257a–257b

In Switzerland, only contractually agreed and actually incurred costs may be charged. Billing is required at least once a year (Art. 4 of the Swiss tenancy ordinance, VMWG); claims expire after five years. ImmoManage guides you through allowable items and reminds you once a billing period is closed.

## Frequently asked questions

**Which costs can I charge?**

Heating, hot water, common area electricity, caretaking, waste disposal, garden and elevator – if contractually agreed.

**By when must the utility bill reach the tenant?**

The law sets no fixed deadline, but requires annual billing (Art. 4 VMWG). In practice, around six months after the end of the billing period is customary. ImmoManage reminds you automatically once the period closes.

**Must I attach receipts?**

Not required, but tenants can request to inspect them (CO Art. 257b). ImmoManage stores all receipts digitally.