Destroyed doors and windows, broken furnishings, missing valuables: the company records around 36.400 burglaries and sneaking in Swiss police in 2019 alone, the clearance rate is only 17.3%. Many homeowners are therefore already taking security precautions in their own four walls. Armored bolts, window locks, door locks, peepholes and even more products are used for security. But what about self-protection in an existing tenancy? Can an apartment or house tenant take their own security measures and, if so, under what conditions? Or is security entirely up to the landlord? We clarify.
Who is responsible for security?
As a rule, the general security of apartments is a matter for the owners. It's about safe doors and windows or the covers of the light shafts. However, landlords are not legally obliged to burglary protection to install. The motto is: as seen, rented as it is. With the rental agreement, the landlord is therefore only obliged to maintain the existing technology for safety. Defective peepholes or door locks must therefore be repaired by the landlord, they do not have to be reinstalled.
Who pays for the damage to the structural substance in the event of a break-in?
That is up to the landlord. Windows, doors and other structural facilities must be kept in a usable condition by the landlord, so the landlord pays for all repairs that tenants with normal craftsmanship cannot do within the framework of 150 francs. What is not the responsibility of the landlord, on the other hand, are replacement services for damaged furniture, decorations or missing valuables.
Are tenants allowed to take action themselves when it comes to security?
If security technology is installed at the expense of tenants, this should always be done in consultation with the landlord. Then it is also possible not to dismantle the apartments when moving out - landlords may take over the new technology according to tenancy law. A transfer fee cannot be claimed under tenancy law. Anyone who, as a landlord, wants to pay such a transfer fee so that the armored locks, window handle locks and Cameras You can of course stay in the apartment.
What security precautions are possible in the rented apartment?
Tenants are not allowed to make major structural changes to the apartments. However, if a door is removed and replaced with a new door with a peephole, this is not a structural change and can be discussed with the tenant. In addition, the installation of high-quality door locks, additional armored bolts and lockable handles on windows and doors is possible by arrangement.
However, attaching armored bolts, for example, is not the easiest way to protect the rented apartment. Even if it has been agreed with the landlord that this may be installed, this does not mean that the armored bolt may remain in the apartment after moving out. An armored bolt also only protects the door. All other access options for intruders are not protected. We therefore recommend another option: the alarm system. A Alarm system may also be installed by the tenant. Video surveillance and biometric access control systems The possibilities range from fingerprint scanners to iris scanners to vein scanners.
The most important points about the security of apartments:
- Precautions that increase the security of the apartment and do not interfere with the structural substance are the responsibility of the tenant according to tenancy law.
- Landlords may request the dismantling of the precautions when moving out.
- If there is a break-in anyway, the landlord must have damage to the building repaired at his own expense.
- According to tenancy law, technology that serves security should be removed by the tenant when moving out.
Do you have any questions about the various options for increasing the security of your rented apartment? Get in touch with us and arrange an appointment free consultation.
