Core tenant protections in Swiss law
Swiss tenancy law is firmly on the tenant's side. Here are the rights that matter most:
Deposit - Capped at three months' net rent - Held in a separate blocked account (Sperrkonto) in your name - Returned about a year after move-out if no claim is filed against it
Protection from unfair termination - The landlord must give at least three months' notice for an ordinary termination - A termination without a valid reason can be contested - You are protected from a "revenge eviction" after you assert your rights
Challenging the rent - You can challenge a new rent at the conciliation authority within 30 days if it seems clearly too high - The conciliation process is free - A rent increase mid-lease can also be contested
Defects and rent reduction - Notify the landlord in writing - Give a reasonable window to repair - After that, you can reduce the rent in proportion to how serious the defect is
Right to sublet - You need the landlord's consent, but it cannot be unreasonably refused - See can I sublet
Help from Mieterverband
The Mieterinnen- und Mieterverband is the tenants' association (ASLOCA in French-speaking Switzerland, ASI in Ticino). For around CHF 80 a year, membership includes: - Legal advice (phone, in-person) - Letter templates - Representation at Schlichtungsbehörde - Local chapters in every canton
Most disputes are settled at conciliation; only about 5% go to court.
Where aptari fits in
Knowing your rights matters most once you have a flat. aptari helps you get there: one open feed of listings from across the market, and a Tenant Passport you fill once so you can apply without re-sending the same dossier to every agency. The Match Score even shows which flats you realistically fit before you apply.