Frequently asked questions

No, it can vary due to the basis for calculation.

Yes, landlords must inform tenants about the rent increase in good time using an official form. Key dates are the termination dates and deadlines agreed in the tenancy agreement or the customary local termination dates if these are not specified in the agreement. Please note the instructions for appeals on the rent adjustment form (reverse side).

Any rent adjustment is regulated by law so it can only happen if the necessary requirements are met. As tenancy agreements for tenants are based on different conditions (e.g. reference interest rate), the potential for adjustments and the amount will also vary. 
For example, if different notice periods are agreed, there may also be different dates for rent adjustments.

Tenancy law stipulates that the party initiating a change in the rent must be the one to take action. 

• If the reference interest rate drops, tenants may request a rent reduction. 
• If the reference interest rate goes up, landlords may communicate a rent increase.

No. Reduction requests submitted by e-mail will not be accepted. Ideally, tenants should submit their reduction request via our digital tenant portal myLivit. The request must be signed by hand by all tenants and uploaded as a scan or photo. We will also accept reduction requests sent to us by post (registered mail or A/B Mail).

There is no fixed time limit; the claim does not expire, so it can be made at any date. The implementation of the adjustment may be postponed to a later date, depending on the date of receipt.

This is based on the rental agreement and the contractually agreed notice periods and dates. An adjustment will take effect on the next regular termination date in compliance with the contractually agreed notice period.

Switzerland’s Federal Office for Housing publishes its reference interest rate quarterly, every 1 March, 1 June, 1 September and 1 December.

Tenants submit their concerns via the myLivit tenant portal. The request signed by hand by all tenants must be uploaded as a scan or photo.

No. If tenants have an indexed rental agreement, they can only refer to the rental price index and not to the reference interest rate.