Utilities / running costs (Nebenkosten).

Nebenkosten (NK, "side costs") are the running costs a tenant pays on top of the net rent. They are owed only if the lease names them specifically (art. 257a OR).

What they usually cover

• Heating and hot water
• Caretaker (Hauswart) and cleaning of common areas
• Common electricity: stairwell, lift, laundry room
• Lift maintenance
• Water and sewage, rubbish fees
• Outdoor areas: garden, snow clearing

What they usually do not cover

• The electricity in your own flat, internet and phone: your own contracts
• The radio and TV fee (Serafe)
• Parking: usually a separate line in the lease
• Your own insurance: liability (Haftpflicht) and household contents (Hausrat)

Gross and net rent

Swiss listings often show one monthly price. That is usually the gross rent, including the Nebenkosten advance. Check how much is net rent and how much is Nebenkosten before you compare two flats. The 3× income rule usually refers to the gross rent.

Advance payments or a lump sum

• Advance payments (Akonto): you pay a monthly advance, and the landlord draws up a statement at least once a year (art. 4 VMWG). You either pay the difference or get a credit. If you use less, you get money back.
• Lump sum (Pauschale): a fixed monthly amount without a yearly statement.

Checking the yearly statement

The statement shows the building's total costs, your share, the advances you paid and the balance. You have the right to see the receipts (art. 257b OR); many leases set a deadline for objections, so check the statement promptly if the numbers look off.

General information, not legal advice.

• OR art. 257a (fedlex.admin.ch)
• OR art. 257b (fedlex.admin.ch)
• VMWG art. 4 (fedlex.admin.ch)