Minor maintenance: What repairs do tenants have to carry out?
What repairs do tenants have to carry out themselves? We will show you what is considered minor maintenance and when the landlord must cover the repair costs.
16.05.2025
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1. Damage in a rented apartment: What repairs do tenants have to carry out themselves?
In principle, the landlord is responsible for the maintenance of the apartment. However, minor defects and repairs are exceptions to this rule. According to tenancy law (Art. 259 of the Swiss Code of Obligations), you must fix these yourself and at your own expense. This work is also known as "minor maintenance".
What is meant by “minor maintenance”?
Minor maintenance includes minor repairs and improvements in a rented apartment. You should be able to do these yourself without any special expertise and with little effort. Typical examples include:
Replacing small parts: replacing light bulbs and small accessories (e.g. oven tray or refrigerator accessories).
Maintenance of moving parts: if necessary, oil hinges and locks and tighten loose screws on built-in furniture.
Cleaning and care: unclogging the sink drain, removing limescale from fittings and changing the filter in the extractor hood.
You should carry out these minor repairs when you move out at the latest. Otherwise, you can expect a deduction from your rental deposit.
Repair costs for tenants: how high can they be?
There is no legally determined cost limit for minor maintenance. The rule of thumb of 150 francs per repair was common for a long time. However, in line with current judicial practice: if you have to consult a specialist, it is no longer a matter of minor maintenance. In this case, the landlord must also pay for bills under 150 francs.
If in doubt, speak with your letting agent before the repair is carried out to determine who will cover the costs. Important: clauses in the tenancy agreement with a higher upper limit for minor repairs (e.g. one percent of the annual rent) are invalid.
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2. Which repairs do landlords have to pay for?
The landlord is essentially responsible for all major defects and repairs in a rented apartment. Specifically, these are repairs that can only be carried out by specialists. The landlord is also responsible for replacing easily replaceable parts that cost more than 150 francs. Typical examples include:
Defects in larger appliances: stove or refrigerator that doesn't work, or a leaking water pipe.
Structural defects in the building: leaking windows or cracks in the walls.
Signs of wear and tear, e.g. on the floors.
In short, anything that is not a minor issue is the responsibility of the landlord.
Landlord repairs: here's what to do
Inform your landlord or landlady immediately if you notice a major fault or defect. Describe the defect and its impact (e.g. the heating no longer works and the apartment is only 10°C). It is important to report any defects immediately to ensure that the damage does not become even worse. As a tenant, you have a duty to minimise damage.
Important: do not hire any tradespeople on your own, but wait for the landlord's response. Otherwise, they may refuse to cover the costs afterwards.
3. Special case: damage caused by wear and tear
The party responsible for bearing the cost of wear and tear damage depends on the type of wear and tear. A distinction is made between "normal wear and tear" and "excessive wear and tear".
Normal wear and tear
Normal wear and tear refers to damage that occurs naturally over time. It can arise in the contractual use of a rented apartment. Examples include worn carpets, superficial scratches on the floor or slight colour changes on the walls. In these instances, the landlord may not charge you for any repair costs when you move out of the apartment.
Excessive wear and tear
Excessive wear and tear is when the wear and tear exceeds the level that can be expected with careful use. The damage caused by this is usually the result of careless behaviour or the apartment being used in a manner that contravenes the contract. This includes, for example, deep scratches on the floor or cracks in the washbasin. In instances such as these, you will have to bear the repair costs yourself.
Good to know: in certain cases, personal liability insurance will cover damage caused by excessive wear and tear in a rented apartment. For example, if you drop a heavy object and damage the washbasin.
What role does the lifespan play?
The lifespan is the average useful life after which an item usually needs to be replaced due to wear and tear from normal use. You can find examples in the lifespan table. A dishwasher, for example, has a lifespan of 15 years, while a washbasin usually lasts 35 years.
In the event of excessive wear and tear, you as the tenant only have to pay the residual value of an item. So, if you cause a crack in a 20-year-old washbasin, you only have to pay just under half the price for a new washbasin. If the lifespan has already expired, the landlord must pay all of the costs for the replacement item.
4. Frequently asked questions
The landlord is generally responsible for major repairs to the washing machine. This does not usually include the costs of fixing faults caused by the tenants.
If the dishwasher is permanently installed and the repair requires specialist knowledge, the landlord must bear the costs. Minor repairs that you can easily carry out yourself (e.g. cleaning a filter) are classified as "minor maintenance". Tenants have to bear the costs for this themselves.
Repairs to permanently installed kitchen appliances or equipment that require a specialist or cost more than 150 francs must be paid for by the landlord. As a tenant, you pay for minor maintenance work that you can carry out yourself (e.g. replacing an oven light).
Minor maintenance work, such as unblocking the drains, must be carried out by the tenant. Major repairs or damage are paid for by the landlord if they are not due to improper use.
As a tenant, you only have to replace small, easily replaceable parts (e.g. light bulbs) at your own expense. If a larger or permanently installed electrical appliance breaks down, the landlord must arrange for repair or replacement.
5. Conclusion
In the case of rented apartments, the landlord is generally responsible for repairs. Minor repairs (minor maintenance) that you can carry out without the need for any expertise and with little effort are exceptions to this rule.
The cost of such minor repairs that you can carry out yourself as well as any spare parts should not exceed around 150 francs. The costs for more expensive parts and for repairs by specialists must be borne by the landlord. An exception is avoidable damage due to excessive wear and tear – you will have to pay for the repairs yourself.
This article was first published on 26.01.2022
