What are the obligations of the outgoing tenant?

Leaving a tenant involves a number of steps and obligations. The state of the premises, respecting the notice period, signing the inventory of fixtures on departure… A look at the duties of the outgoing tenant.

Termination and notice: obligations of the outgoing tenant

In Switzerland, it is only possible to terminate a rental contract for a flat or a house free of charge when the lease expires. A letter of termination must be sent to the landlord and a notice period must be served before the accommodation is returned. This notice period is part of the obligations of the outgoing tenant. Its duration is mentioned in the lease. It is generally three months. In the event of the tenant leaving the property early, the landlord may charge a termination fee specified in the lease. To avoid these costs, the tenant can take care of finding a buyer himself, provided that the candidate is solvent and accepted by the landlord.

The tenant’s exit inventory of fixtures: an unavoidable step

The outgoing tenant’s obligations also include signing the inventory of fixtures on departure. Beforehand, the tenant is advised to compare the inventory of fixtures with the current state of the property in order to undertake the necessary work to restore it to its original state. This work is the responsibility of the outgoing tenant. At the time of the inventory of fixtures on departure, all the elements are compared with the information noted in the inventory of fixtures on entry. Any repairs are part of the outgoing tenant’s obligations. Once the keys have been handed over to the landlord, the latter provides a certificate of departure for the tenant.

The rent guarantee: rights and obligations of the outgoing tenant

The rental guarantee is a sum paid by the tenant when taking over the accommodation. It is a deposit, the amount of which cannot exceed three months’ rent. This guarantee is deposited by the landlord in a bank account in the tenant’s name and must be returned at the time of termination. The guarantee must be returned to the tenant within 12 months of the end of the lease. Be careful, because among the obligations of the outgoing tenant is the obligation to return the accommodation in the same condition as when he or she moved in. Any repair costs may therefore be deducted from this guarantee.

Find all the obligations of the outgoing tenant easily on the SherlockHomes website.

This article is not exhaustive and does not engage the responsibility of its author.