Switzerland
Renting & Tenant Rights
Last verified August 15, 2026
Written for U.S. passport holders
Deposit Rules
- Under Article 257e of the Swiss Code of Obligations, the security deposit (Mietkaution) is capped at 3 months' rent and must be held in a dedicated bank account in the tenant's own name, not just kept by the landlord.
- After you move out, the landlord has 30 days to release the deposit or formally raise a claim against it. If they don't assert a claim within 1 year of the tenancy ending, you can demand the bank release the deposit to you directly.
Notice Periods
- Standard notice is 3 months, and Swiss practice is notably strict about it: notice periods are usually tied to specific calendar termination dates (commonly March 31, June 30, or September 30), and a termination letter delivered even one day late can reset the entire notice period.
- You can't be evicted without formal, properly served written notice. If a landlord's notice looks improper or retaliatory, you can contest it for free through the cantonal Schlichtungsbehörde (conciliation authority).
The Gotcha
Swiss notice periods are rigid in a way that actually tends to favor tenants who know the rules: because termination has to hit an exact calendar date and be properly delivered, a landlord's notice that's even slightly late or improperly served can be voided by a Swiss court, potentially locking them into the lease for months longer than they intended. It's worth knowing this cuts both ways if you're the one trying to give notice too.
Sources
This page was drafted from the primary sources below. Rules change, so check the linked page directly before relying on any of this.
- Schweizerisches Obligationenrecht (Code of Obligations), incl. Art. 257e (Fedlex (Swiss Federal Council))