The boxes are packed, the furniture in the moving truck and the new home in the canton of Zurich, Bern or Basel is already waiting for you. But before handing over the keys for good, one of the biggest steps awaits in Switzerland: the move-out cleaning of the old home. Few topics generate as much discussion, nervousness and legal disputes during handover as cleanliness. According to art. 267 para. 1 CO, the tenant is required to return the rented property in the condition resulting from use in accordance with the contract. What this means in detail and the rigor with which Swiss management companies control is often underestimated.
As the leading Swiss comparison portal, Online-Offerten.ch supports you in this demanding process. This guide explains how to place cleaning obligations, sweeping and guarantee of acceptance when handing over the accommodation – and why written conditions protect before deductions from the deposit.
DIY or company: obligations and guarantee of acceptance when handing over
Before handing over the accommodation the question inevitably arises: Do we clean ourselves or hire a professional cleaning company? Both paths have clear advantages and disadvantages in terms of effort, evidence and risk to the surety. On a tight budget, the temptation is great to grab the cleaning bucket yourself. But if you take into account your own working time and the risk, the result is often different.
Variant A: move-out cleaning yourself (DIY)
If you opt for DIY cleaning (personal work), you save first sight of direct money. However, the effort in terms of time and physical strength is considerable. For a thorough move-out cleaning, according to Comparis benchmarks, at least two full days of intense work are required. Allow approximately 1.5 hours per room, up to 3 hours for the bathroom and up to 5 hours for the kitchen including all appliances (oven, refrigerator, hood and dishwasher). Hidden costs are added:
Purchase of special cleaning products (powerful descalers, oven spray, plastic care).
Rental of professional devices such as carpet extractors (daily rental from the retailer, no general guide price). accommodation.
Significant risk that the management will notice defects during delivery and that you will have to clean again the same day under extreme pressure.
Variant B: cleaning professional with guarantee of acceptance
If you decide to compare and have the work carried out by professionals, you obtain a clearly defined and better plannable scope of services. With a single request, you can request a moving cleaning that complies with the rules of the art. Professional service providers generally clean an average home in a few hours with a trained team who knows exactly what the Swiss property managers check.
The usefulness of an handover guarantee depends on the conditions agreed in writing. Clarify before ordering which parts and work are covered, whether a presentation at handover is required and when additional cleaning will take place. A guarantee does not replace verification of the concrete scope of services.
Scope of services and conditions of acceptance of move-out cleaning
The costs of a professional move-out cleaning depend on several factors: size of the housing, degree of soiling, number of bathrooms and window types (e.g. composite windows or slatted blinds). To plan your budget precisely, you can calculate your individual cleaning costs directly with us. The following ranges serve as non-binding guidance. These guideline values vary by size, state, region and provider; check the VAT and handover guarantee separately in each quote:
The non-binding guideline values can be found on the page Cleaning costs in Switzerland. Only the quote from the company concerned is binding.
Savings potential and contractual pitfalls
When establishing the quote, ensure that all services are included in the fixed price. With us you only compare transparent fixed price quotes. If you want to coordinate moving and cleaning, it is often worth looking at a combined moving and cleaning quote. Many partners quote a discount of up to 15 percent when booking together, which significantly reduces your total costs.
Also take into account cantonal and regional particularities. While German-speaking Switzerland generally requires a deeply cleaned shed, in some regions (e.g. in parts of North-West Switzerland such as Basel-Stadt) the contract often only provides for a "swept" shed. According to articles in the magazine Le Temps, the tenant pays in these cases upon exit a contractual cleaning compensation per square meter to the lessor. It is therefore essential to consult your lease contract in advance or obtain information from the Swiss Tenants Association (ASLOCA) about local practices.
Check the lease clauses: requirements regarding carpets, parquet or professional cleaning must be assessed in the light of the contract, the condition and the concrete situation of delivery. The Swiss Tenants Association provides information on typical clauses; In the event of a dispute, individual legal clarification is wise. The main thing is a return in accordance with the contract and carried out professionally.
Before handover, also familiarize yourself with your rights and obligations regarding the handover protocol. Consult our detailed guide on the rental deposit and the defects protocol on this subject. Thorough preparation protects you against unjustified requests from management. In addition, you will find useful advice in our guide for a carefree housing handover.
Regional obligations during move-out cleaning
Obligations and the usual scope of services vary depending on the region. Guidance for Zurich, Bern and Basel: move-out cleaning in Zurich, move-out cleaning in Bern and move-out cleaning in Basel.
