Art. 262 CO Compliant

Art. 262 CO Compliant

Complies with Swiss Code of Obligations Art. 262 for safe subletting.

Customizable Clauses

Customizable Clauses

Tailored terms for rent, utilities, furnished rooms, and deposit rules

Instant PDF Export

Instant PDF Export

Generate your legally compliant Swiss sublease contract instantly.

Legally Compliant Subletting in Switzerland (Art. 262 CO)

Subletting an apartment, a room in a flatshare (WG / Colocation), or a commercial space is a common and legally recognized practice in Switzerland. Under Article 262 of the Swiss Code of Obligations (CO / OR), tenants have the statutory right to sublet part or all of their rented property, provided they adhere to specific legal conditions.

A written, comprehensive sublease agreement is essential to protect all parties. You can quickly create a Swiss sublease agreement online using our interactive generator. It establishes binding rules for rent payments, utility cost allocations, security deposit handling, house rules, and termination notice periods, preventing costly disputes between the main tenant, the subtenant, and the primary landlord.

Create Your Swiss Sublease Agreement Online

Save CHF 100 compared to hiring a traditional lawyer.

Just 39 CHF

Create Now
TWINT Mastercard Visa American Express
SSL Secure Checkout  |  100% Data Privacy

Key Legal Requirements for Subleasing in Switzerland

Before entering into a sublease agreement, both main tenants and subtenants should understand their rights and duties under Swiss tenancy law:

  • Landlord Consent (Art. 262 Para. 1 CO): The main tenant must formally notify the landlord or property management (Régie / Verwaltung) and request consent before the sublease begins.
  • Limits on Landlord Refusal (Art. 262 Para. 2 CO): The landlord can only refuse consent if the tenant refuses to disclose the sublease terms, if the terms are abusive (e.g., excessive profit), or if the sublease causes significant disadvantages to the owner.
  • No Abusive Profits: Subletting must not be used for commercial speculation. For unfurnished rooms, rent must reflect the proportional share of the actual main rent and utilities. For fully furnished rooms, a modest markup (generally 10% to 20%) is legally permissible to cover furniture depreciation, internet, and electricity.
  • Liability of the Main Tenant: The main tenant remains entirely responsible to the landlord for timely rent payments and any property damages caused by the subtenant (Art. 262 Para. 3 CO). Main tenants subletting while temporarily abroad often set up a General Power of Attorney or a Mail Collection Authorization to manage local correspondence.
Swiss Sublease Agreement - Online Form Swiss Sublease Agreement - Document Preview Swiss Sublease Agreement - Ready Document

Essential Clauses Included in Our Sublease Contract

Our interactive generator creates a customized, ready-to-sign agreement covering all critical Swiss legal requirements:

  • Contracting Parties: Precise identification of the primary tenant, subtenant, and primary landlord.
  • Rented Premises & Scope: Specification of exclusive private rooms (e.g., bedroom) and shared common areas (kitchen, bathroom, living room, balcony, cellar, parking space).
  • Rental Amount & Ancillary Costs (Nebenkosten / Charges): Transparent breakdown of net rent, heating/utility advance payments, internet/Wi-Fi, electricity, and furnishings. If payment issues arise, a formal Debt Acknowledgment can provide clear legal recourse.
  • Rental Deposit (Mietkautionskonto): Clear rules for depositing up to three months' rent into a blocked Swiss bank account in the subtenant's name or utilizing an approved rental guarantee provider.
  • Duration & Termination Periods: Options for fixed-term (befristet) or indefinite (unbefristet) leases with legally sound notice periods. If you also need to end your primary tenancy, refer to our Rental Agreement Termination Letter or our guide on Early Lease Termination (Art. 264 CO).
  • House Rules & Maintenance: Quiet hours (Ruhezeiten), smoking policies, pet permissions, key allocation, and minor maintenance obligations (kleiner Unterhalt).
  • Handover & Acceptance Protocol: Framework for documenting initial property condition and wear-and-tear during key handover (Wohnungsabnahmeprotokoll).

Create Your Swiss Sublease Agreement Online

Save CHF 100 compared to hiring a traditional lawyer.

Just 39 CHF

Create Now
TWINT Mastercard Visa American Express
  • Full Liability Defense

    Protects the main tenant against damages and unpaid rent.

  • Fair Rent Protection

    Prevents unlawful surcharges and landlord lease disputes.

  • Ready-to-Sign PDF

    Download and print your completed Swiss agreement.

Trusted by Customers Across Switzerland

4.5 (450)

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. According to Article 262, Paragraph 1 of the Swiss Code of Obligations (CO), the main tenant must inform the landlord and obtain their consent prior to subletting. The landlord may only refuse consent if the tenant withholds the terms of the sublease, if the sublease terms are abusive (such as charging an excessive profit), or if the sublease causes major disadvantages to the landlord.

Subletting must not generate unreasonable commercial profits. The base rent charged must be proportionate to the living space occupied. For furnished rooms, Swiss tenancy case law permits a reasonable surcharge—typically 10% to 20% over the base share—to cover furniture depreciation, internet access, electricity, and shared amenities.

Yes. A security deposit of up to a maximum of three months' rent can be agreed upon for residential subleases. Under Swiss law, the deposit must be deposited into a dedicated, blocked rental deposit bank account (Mietkautionskonto) in the subtenant's name, or arranged via an approved Swiss rental deposit guarantee service.

The primary tenant remains 100% liable to the primary landlord for all obligations under the main lease contract, including timely rent payments and any physical damage caused by the subtenant (Art. 262 Para. 3 CO). This is why having a clear, written sublease agreement and an official handover protocol (Wohnungsabnahmeprotokoll) is critical.

For fixed-term subleases, the contract ends automatically on the agreed end date without requiring formal notice. For indefinite subleases, the statutory notice period for furnished rooms is typically two weeks to the end of a one-month rental period, or three months to local official moving dates for entire apartments/unfurnished rooms, unless contractual terms specify otherwise.

While not strictly mandated by statutory law, a written handover protocol is strongly recommended. Documenting existing defects and the condition of the room/furniture at move-in prevents disputes regarding deposit deductions when the subtenant moves out.

at Just 39/- CHF

Create Now
TWINT Mastercard Visa American Express
SSL Secure Checkout  |  100% Data Privacy

Loading...