Legal basis: CO Art. 257a–257b
Utility costs must be explicitly agreed upon in the rental agreement. Without this clause, all operating costs are included in the rent.
Allowable utility costs
- Heating and hot water
- Common area electricity
- Caretaking and cleaning
- Waste disposal fees
- Garden maintenance and snow removal
- Elevator operation
Deadlines and limitation period
Swiss law sets no fixed deadline for delivering the bill. Landlords who charge advance payments must bill at least once a year (Art. 4 para. 1 of the tenancy ordinance, VMWG). In practice, delivery within around six months of the end of the billing period is customary. Claims arising from the utility bill expire after five years (Art. 128 no. 1 CO).
💡 Automate utility billing with ImmoManage
Track costs throughout the year, categorized by admissibility. At year-end, the software calculates each tenant's share and generates a professional PDF.
Frequently asked questions
Must I attach receipts? +
Not required, but tenants have the right to inspect them on request. Keep all documents for at least 5 years.
What if the tenant disputes the bill? +
Tenants have 30 days to dispute in writing. If unresolved, the local mediation authority decides.
30 days free
30 days free – then your chosen plan starts automatically.