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COST OF LIVING

Noisy construction work in Switzerland: What are my rights?

You rented an apartment in a quiet location but all of a sudden there is construction going on and the noise is driving you crazy. Is there anything you can do in Switzerland other than pack up your stuff and move away?

Noisy construction work in Switzerland: What are my rights?
Hammering noise can really disrupt your peace. Photo by Burst on Pexels

While Switzerland might have a range of unusually strong tenant protections, you can’t stop the construction or the noise, no matter how much you are bothered by it.

In Switzerland, there are regulations relating to noise reduction in densely populated areas.

The appropriately named Construction Noise Directive (CAD) aims at protecting living and working places in the vicinity of construction sites.

It uses criteria such as the distance between a dwelling and the construction site, the days and times of construction activity (no nights or Sundays, for instance), as well as the duration of the noisy phase of construction.

What if the construction is in your building?

As a tenant, you have the right to ask the landlord in writing for a reduction in the rent due to the work and the inconvenience suffered (dust, noise, etc.) during the construction period.

The amount of the rent reduction will depend on the extent of the inconvenience and disruption to your life and health, so describe the situation in detail.

Renting in Switzerland: Can I pay less when my landlord renovates the apartment?

If other tenants in your building are also bothered by the noise, you could sign and send one letter to the landlord from all of you.

Aside from the construction noise in general, you can also can also request rent reduction if you are considerably inconvenienced by landlord-ordered transformations in your building which generate noise and dust, or your inability to use your balcony or open your windows for an extended period of time because of scaffolding.

What if the landlord refuses to lower your rent?

You can always take legal action once the construction / transformation is finished and final amount of the reduction can be determined.

If the parties can’t reach an agreement, the court will decide whether the landlord should grant lower the rent, and if so, by how much, and for what period of time.

To this end, Swiss Tenants Association advises to document — with photos and videos — any major disruptions emanating from the construction. https://www.mieterverband.ch

This site which also exists in French and Italian also provides general advice on  tenants’ rights.

READ MORE: Buying property versus renting in Switzerland: What is actually cheaper?

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LIVING IN SWITZERLAND

Checklist: What you need to do if you move house in Switzerland

Moving from one house or apartment in Switzerland to another is not as simple as just packing up your furniture. Instead, the process involves quite a few administrative tasks.

Checklist: What you need to do if you move house in Switzerland

Anyone who has ever moved, whether in Switzerland or elsewhere, knows it is not just a matter of simple logistics.

In fact, whether you are relocating to another town or canton, or just to another neighbourhood, moving is a big, expensive, time-consuming, and stressful experience.

These are various tasks you will have to cross off your list, one by one.

Getting your old apartment in order

It goes without saying that before you move out, you must make sure to leave the place clean and in order. Most people hire a cleaning company to do so, though you can, of course, do this yourself.

If, for instance, you broke or damaged anything while living in the apartment, you must repair it before you leave.

The condition of the apartment will be assessed during the final inspection process, when the landlord or the management company will write down all damages which you are responsible for either repairing yourself or paying someone else to do it for you.

You are not officially off the hook with your previous landlord until this process is completed.

De-register your old address and register the new one

Whether you are moving across the country or just across the street, this is an obligatory step.

You must let your ‘old’ commune’s population office (Einwohnerkontrolle / Contrôle des habitants/ Controllo abitanti) know you are leaving, and from which date.

You can do so either in person or (if available) online.

Then, when you settle in a new home, you have 14 days to announce your arrival in your new municipality, though in some places the deadline may be longer.

You will need the following documents:

  • A passport or ID card for each member of the family, in addition to a passport-sized photo for everyone
  • Documents relating to your family status — whether you are single, married, and with children
  • Your work or residency permit 
  • Your lease contract or proof of home ownership
  • Your health insurance card or proof of your current health insurance policy.

The rules are the same regardless of where you arrive from, that is, if you are Swiss, an EU citizen or from a third country, however the supporting documentation may vary. 

Some cantons may require other or additional documents, which you can find out ahead of time on your commune or canton’s website.

READ ALSO: Why you need to tell Swiss authorities where you live 

Inform the post office about your change of address

To ensure that your mail arrives at your new home, fill out the ‘change of address’ form online at least four days before your move. 

Four days is a minimum required time for the post office to process the address change and register it in the electronic database.

If you wait longer, your mail will continue to be delivered to  the old address.

You also should notify these companies of your move and new address:

  • Your mobile telephone / internet provider (if you still have a fixed phone, you should have it switched off at the old address and re-activated at the new one)
  • Your bank
  • Your insurance companies (health, car, and any other ones you have, both mandatory and optional)
  • Your doctor / dentist

If you forget to inform anyone of your new address, no worries — the post office will automatically forward the letters to you, provided your notified them of the change (see above).

What about the tax office?

You don’t have to do a thing.

Your local commune will automatically inform tax authorities of your move, so there is no chance whatsoever that they won’t find you.

Rental versus owned property

If you move into a rental property, you don’t need to, in most cases, notify utility providers like the electric company of your move.

But if you are going to live in your own house, then you must let the local power company know to switch on your electricity supply.
 

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