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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • We list all available rental properties on the flatfox.ch platform within a few days of receiving notice of termination. You can also find individual properties on immoscout.ch or homegate.ch.
  • Once you've found a property that interests you, click the "I'm interested" button in the listing and send us your contact information.
  • Within 1–2 days, we will send you the contact information for an on-site tour.
  • If you like the apartment, you will receive a code during the viewing that will allow you to access the online registration form.

When filling out the rental application, please note the following:

  1. Please provide us with the exact contact information for your references (previous landlords and employers) and let them know that a link to the survey will be sent to them via email
  2. Upload a current debt collection registry extract (no older than 3 months) or request a current certificate directly during the registration process

We do not keep waiting lists. 

Here’s a quick tip: Set up a search alert on Flatfox, and you’ll be notified by email whenever new listings are posted.

“Utilities” is the general term for heating and operating costs. They include the costs for heating and hot water, as well as other operating expenses. You can find a list of the utilities to be billed in your lease agreement. Additional costs such as electricity for personal use, internet, SERAFE, etc., are not included in the operating costs. These must be paid directly to the respective provider.

Voluntarily choosing not to use the provided facilities, such as the elevator, playgrounds, etc., does not exempt you from the obligation to pay. In such cases, the principle of solidarity applies.

We recommend that you monitor the current situation and, if possible, increase your advance payments or build up reserves. Any increase in advance payments must be made in writing. Please use the Form to Increase the Utility Bill and send it, signed, to .

This is often because consumption (water, wastewater, heating, and hot water) is higher than in the previous period. An increase in heating or operating costs (oil prices, price hikes for service contracts, a harsh winter, etc.), such as in the winter of 2022, can also lead to a higher bill.

When heating and water usage is billed individually, utility costs for identical apartments may vary depending on usage patterns. Please also note that your neighbor likely pays a different monthly estimated payment than you do, which is why any additional utility charges or credits may differ.

Both your move-in and move-out dates are taken into account when preparing the utility bill. You will only be charged for the actual months of your tenancy. The applicable billing period is listed on your utility bill in the header, directly next to the property description. 

You will find our bank account information on the first page of your utility bill. Please check this information and notify us of any changes by email at

If your utility bill shows a credit balance, the credit will be refunded to you within 14 days after the 30-day appeal period has expired. If the payment information on your utility bill is no longer current, please send us your new account details by email to along with.

Normally, you pay a monthly amount (on account or as a flat rate) that is determined based on past costs (average value) or using historical data. If you pay your heating and utility costs on account, the costs are settled annually (12 months) as of the billing date and offset against the on-account payments you have already made. This may result in a credit balance or an additional payment. If significant additional payments are due, we will suggest increasing your monthly payments. If your heating and utility costs are charged as a flat rate, you will not receive an annual statement.

You can find the monthly amount of your advance payment in your lease agreement, on the most recent written notice of rent adjustment, or on the most recent confirmation of the advance payment increase.

Normally, you pay a monthly amount (on account or as a flat rate) that is determined based on past costs (average value) or using historical data. If you pay your heating and utility costs on account, the costs are settled annually (every 12 months) as of the billing date and offset against the on-account payments you have already made. This may result in a credit balance or an additional payment. If significant additional payments are required, we will suggest increasing your monthly payments. If your heating and utility costs are charged as a flat rate, you will not receive an annual statement.

The pro-rated operating costs include general expenses such as building maintenance, weather-related expenses like snow removal or yard care, fees for trash collection, water, and sewage, as well as the general electricity costs for lighting the stairwell and laundry room, etc. These costs are allocated proportionally among all tenants according to a specific formula. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. You can find more information in your lease agreement.

Along with the lease agreement, you also received the house rules. The house rules are an integral part of the lease agreement and must be followed. They govern communal living in the building and contain important information regarding quiet hours, the use of common areas, the laundry room, and the garden, as well as guidelines regarding visitors, pets, and cleaning and hygiene in the building.

First, talk to your neighbor and explain the situation calmly and objectively. Ask your neighbor to follow the house rules.

If the situation does not improve, please contact the administration by email or letter and describe the situation (who?, what?, when?, how often?) and your request.

Swiss fire safety regulations require that stairwells be kept clear as escape and rescue routes. We therefore ask that you keep items such as shoes, strollers, or toys inside your apartment.

Regularly ventilating your home is the most effective way to prevent mold growth. Please refer to our fact sheet on proper ventilation

Tenants must tidy up and clean the laundry room, the drying room, and the appliances inside them after use. 

You may keep small animals such as guinea pigs or similar without a permit, provided you comply with animal welfare regulations and the number of animals remains within reasonable limits. If you wish to keep other pets (cats, rabbits, dogs, fish, parrots, reptiles, etc.), you must obtain a permit from us in advance. Please send us an email at . Please specify the type of pet you wish to keep, the number of pets, and don’t forget to mention the property where you live. We will review your request as soon as possible and, if approved, send you a permit.

By law, you must obtain written permission from the administration if you want to paint a wall. Please send us a message at Please describe your project to us and don’t forget to tell us where you live. 

Even if we give you permission to paint the walls a different color, you must repaint them white when you move out or cover the cost of repairs.

You will need our approval for this. Please send us an email at Please describe your plans to us in advance and include any quotes you may have. Don’t forget to mention the property where you live. We will review your request as soon as possible and, if approved, send you a permit.

If you do not intend to use the cable connection, please notify us in writing. In that case, the connection will be sealed. Please note that if you move out, any costs incurred in unsealing the connection will be charged to you in full, as the connection must be made available for the next tenant.

If your ability to use your rental apartment in accordance with the lease is impaired, this constitutes a defect. The law distinguishes between minor, moderate, and major defects.

Under the law, "normal wear and tear" refers to the careful use of an apartment in accordance with the terms of the lease. What constitutes normal wear and tear depends on various factors, including how many people lived in the apartment and for how long. 

Report the damage online via our website www.prestige.ch in the Tenant Services. 

Under tenancy law, minor defects must be repaired by the tenant themselves, provided that the repair or replacement can be done by hand and without specialized knowledge. This is referred to as “minor maintenance.” This includes:

  • Replacement of kitchen and bathroom accessories (e.g., baking sheets, refrigerator accessories such as egg cups, range hood filters, toothbrush holders, shower rods, toilet seats and lids, etc.) 
  • Unclogging drains, provided it can be done with a few simple steps
  • Tightening loose screws on electrical outlets
  • Replacing light bulbs (bathroom, kitchen)
  • Unclogging sewer lines all the way to the main line
  • Oiling Hinges

Please report major damage online via our website www.prestige.ch in the Tenant Services . 

Orders must be placed through the administration. Please contact us via our website www.prestige.ch in the Tenant Services. 

Once the order is placed, you will receive a copy of the order via email. This email will also include the contact information for the assigned building manager or contractor. If the building manager or contractor does not contact you within 48 hours to schedule an appointment, you may contact them directly.

If you hire contractors directly, in most cases you will have to cover the costs yourself.

Take photos of the current situation and send them to us, along with a description of the problem and your home address, to

Please let us know how many extra keys you would like by visiting our website at www.prestige.ch and going to the Tenant Services. 

If you wish, we can order additional keys to the apartment for you. In this case, you will be responsible for the costs.

Report a lost key online via our website www.prestige.ch in the Tenant Services. 

Depending on the situation, you may need to replace just the key or the entire locking system. As a result, the costs can vary. Contact your liability insurance provider to determine whether they will cover the costs.

  1. Check the notice periods in your lease. If you wish to give notice to vacate the apartment outside of these periods, please refer to section 5.
  2. Write a notice of termination that includes your full address, a list of all the spaces you are renting (e.g., parking space, craft room), and your desired termination date.
  1. All contracting parties must sign the notice of termination by hand. Scanned signatures are not permitted.
  1. Please send your notice of termination by certified mail to Prestige Immobilien AG, Berninastrasse 29, P.O. Box, 8042 Zurich. Notices of termination sent by email are not legally valid.
  1. If you give notice outside the contractual notice period, you are required to find a replacement tenant. We are happy to assist you in your search and will list the apartment for you on Flatfox. To post the listing, we need high-quality photos of the property and up to 7 business days to go live. Screening potential tenants typically takes about 1–2 weeks (collecting all documents and verifying references); if responses are delayed, this process may take longer. We therefore ask you to note that re-letting can take 4–6 weeks.

Termination outside the agreed notice periods is possible if you provide a reasonable, suitable, and financially sound (solvent) replacement tenant and the new lease agreement has been signed by both parties (Prestige Immobilien and the replacement tenant). 

We’ll help you with your search by posting an ad on your behalf and reviewing the applications we receive. If a suitable new tenant is found by the desired termination date, we’ll release you from liability. If we’re unable to re-rent the apartment in time, you’ll be responsible for the rent until the next official termination date or until a new tenant is found. 

If the management decides to raise the rent for the new tenant, your liability will be released as of the specified date.

Under tenancy law, minor defects must be repaired by the tenant themselves, provided that the repair or replacement can be done by hand and without specialized knowledge. This is referred to as “minor maintenance.” This includes:

  • Replacement of kitchen and bathroom accessories (e.g., baking sheets, refrigerator accessories such as egg cups, range hood filters, toothbrush holders, shower rods, toilet seats and lids, etc.) 
  • Unclogging drains, provided it can be done with a few simple steps
  • Tightening loose screws on electrical outlets
  • Replacing light bulbs (bathroom, kitchen)
  • Unclogging sewer lines all the way to the main line
  • Oiling Hinges

Please report major damage online via our website www.prestige.ch in the Tenant Services . 

You are required to allow access to your apartment for viewings. You may let us know your preferred dates and how you would like prospective tenants to contact you.

Generally, every apartment is officially advertised. If you know someone among your friends or acquaintances who is interested, you can recommend them to us as a prospective tenant. We will then review their application in accordance with our standard procedure.

When moving out, drill holes must be filled in by a professional so that they are not visible to the next tenant.

When you move out, the condition of the apartment will be inspected and compared to the move-in report. If any parts or appliances are defective, you may be billed for the cost of replacement, provided these expenses fall within the scope of minor maintenance.

Any costs resulting from excessive or improper use will also be billed to you in accordance with the joint service life table. At your request, these costs can be deducted from your security deposit.

When moving to a new municipality, you must notify your current municipality that you are moving away. To deregister, go to the municipal registry office in your current municipality. The same procedure applies when registering at your new place of residence. You have 14 days to do this. Check with your municipality to find out which documents you need to bring with you for registration or deregistration.

You are required to report anyone who moves in with you. Please send us an email at [email protected] with the following information:

  • Copy of identification (ID card, passport, residence permit)
  • Debt Collection Record
  • Information on how the new name tags should be labeled
  1. You must always obtain prior approval before taking in a subtenant. 
  2. Please send us an email to [email protected] with the following information and documents regarding the prospective subtenant:
  • Copy of identification (ID card, passport, residence permit)
  • Copy of the sublease agreement (details of the rent agreement)
  • Notification of the duration of the sublease
  • Information on how the new name tags should be labeled
  1. Please also let us know when a subtenant moves out of your apartment.

Please note that you remain liable for any damage caused by your tenants and will continue to serve as our point of contact as the property management company. Please note that you are not permitted to make a profit from subletting your apartment, and the use of Airbnb and similar platforms is expressly prohibited.

Please send us an email at [email protected] to request a contract amendment, including the following information and documents:

  • Reason for amending the contract (moving in together, marriage, separation, divorce, death, etc.)
  • Copies of official documents (marriage/divorce certificate, etc.) 
  • Date of revision.

Tenancy law stipulates that the party seeking a change in rent must take the initiative. Therefore, when the reference interest rate decreases, the tenant typically requests a reduction in rent. Conversely, when the reference interest rate increases, the property management company notifies the tenant of the adjustment.

The effective dates are the notice periods and deadlines agreed upon in the lease agreement. In addition, the landlord must notify the tenant of the rent increase using the official form provided by the canton of residence. On the back of the form, you will find important information regarding the legal provisions governing rent adjustments.