Paritary lifespan table in Switzerland: what is it?
The lifespan table indicates how long you will have to cover the costs in the event of damage to your rental apartment – and how high your share is.
10.03.2026
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1. What is a lifespan table?
Paritary lifespan tables show how long permanently installed home fixtures last on average. The guideline values are based on normal use and wear and tear.
Lifespan tables also provide a basis for the calculation of tenant damage due to excessive wear and tear. In Switzerland, the lifespan table jointly developed by the Mieterinnen- und Mieterverbands (tenants’ association, MV) and the Hauseigentümerverbands (homeowners’ association, HEV) usually serves as a reference.
Important: The end of an item’s lifespan does not mean that the landlord must replace it. The landlord is only obliged to keep appliances in a serviceable condition (Art. 256 CO). As long as the appliance is still functioning, you are not entitled to a replacement.
2. What is the lifespan of the oven and other items?
The following lifespan table is a Excerpt from the service life table for items compiled by the tenants’ association and the homeowners’ association.
| Rental property item | Average service life in years |
|---|---|
| Wall paint (emulsion and distemper paint) | 8 |
| Dishwasher | 15 |
| Refrigerator with integrated freezer | 10 |
| Freestanding refrigerator | 15 |
| Hob and oven | 15 |
| Laminate flooring (medium quality) | 15 |
| Parquet flooring (solid wood, glued) | 40 |
| Doors (solid wood) | 30 |
| Heat and sound-insulating windows | 25 |
| Bathroom furniture (plastic) | 10 |
| Washing machine and tumble dryer | 15 |
| Washbasin (ceramic) | 35 |
| Lift system | 30 |
| Flat roof (cement slab covering) | 30 |
| Pitched roof (tiles) | 50 |
Source: Tenants’ association and HEV homeowners’ association
Status: March 2026
Good to know: You can obtain printed copies of the current service life table from the Tenants’ Association shop and Homeowners’ Association online. You can order from both. Both associations also offer online tools where you can look up the service life of items. The service life table is not available as a PDF for Switzerland.
3. Service life table: calculation of tenant damage
Tenants are only liable for the current value. If the service life has expired, you generally don’t need to pay anything more. You can determine the current value using the following formula:
Current value = costs ÷ service life × (service life – age)
For example: The broken dishwasher is 10 years old. The average lifespan is 15 years, and the cost of a new dishwasher is CHF 500.
You have to pay CHF 166.66, because: 500 ÷ 15 × (15 – 10) = CHF 166.66.
Liability insurance covers tenant damage
Report any damage to your liability insurance. It will often cover unforeseen tenant damage due to excessive wear and tear.
Don’t have liability insurance yet? Then it’s best to compare different deals. This way, you’ll find the right insurance cover for you.
4. When do I have to pay for tenant damage?
In the case of normal wear and tear you do not have to pay for any damage. Does the appliance no longer function properly due to improper use, no longer function properly? In that case, you as the tenant have to pay for the replacement.It would be improper use to overfill the dishwasher or to leave a wine stain on the carpet, for example.
Good to know: You don’t have to pay the full cost of replacing the appliance. The amount you have to pay depends on the age and lifespan of the appliance.
This article was first published on 03.11.2020
