If you rent (rather than own) an apartment in Switzerland, becoming a member of the organisation that defends tenants may offer you many benefits.
But first: what kind of tenant advocacy groups exist in Switzerland, and where are they?
There is one per linguistic region:
Mieterinnen- und Mieterverband Deutschschweiz
Association suisse des locataires ASLOCA
Associazione Svizzera Inquilini
Their core mission, regardless of where they are located, is the same: to defend the rights and interests of tenants in Switzerland.
What kind of problems to they deal with?
They are experts in all aspects of housing and rental law, so they are active politically at the municipal, cantonal and national levels, with the aim of improving and protecting tenants’ legal rights, as well as promoting the construction and preservation of affordable housing.
One such recent example is the initiative they launched against abusively high rents.
The organisation argues that rents must be based on the actual costs of a property plus a reasonable return – not on maximising profits.
But though this principle is already enshrined in law, the association points out that it is rarely enforced in practice.
The initiative demands, therefore, that rents be reviewed “automatically and regularly” to spot, and act on, abusively high rents.
The date for this vote is not yet set.
This what the organisation is doing on the political level for the benefit of all tenants.
What if you need individual help?
They can help with that too – for instance, by advising how to ask your landlord for a rent reduction (provided you are entitled to one), or how to solve any disputes you may have with them.
READ MORE: How can I legally reduce my rent in Switzerland?
READ MORE: How to resolve a dispute with your Swiss landlord
Do you have to join the association to benefit from these services?
Yes – and you have to do that before you seek any assistance, not during or after, because they only help members in good standing.
This is the same principle as taking out fire insurance for instance – you need to have it in place before you make any claims, raher than purchase it while the house is already burning.
How to join and how much does it cost?
Go to the website of the tenants’ association in your area and click on the ‘Become a member ‘ button.
You will then have to choose the canton where you live because fees vary from one canton to another.
For instance, it is 100 francs per year in Zurich, 95 in Basel-City,100 in Bern, 70 in Geneva, and 80 in Vaud.
There may also be a one-time registration fee for the first year – usually 20 francs.
Should you become a member?
That is entirely up to you.
Most tenants in Switzerland never needed to resort to this help, while others have.
If you are a foreigner and not familiar with Swiss legislation, you may want to join.
