Do I have to ask for a Swiss rent reduction by registered mail?
No. The law requires a written request, which means a letter with your handwritten signature, as an original. An email or a printed signature is not enough.
The Federal Office for Housing advises sending it by registered mail. That fixes the date the landlord received your request, so you can count the two 30-day deadlines safely.
Which dates and deadlines apply?
| Reference rate | 1.25 percent since 2 September 2025, unchanged on 2 September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Next publication | 1 December 2026, then 1 March, 1 June, 1 September and 1 December 2027 |
| When the lower rent applies | From the next termination date at the earliest |
| Landlord's answer | 30 days after your request |
| No answer or an unsatisfactory one | Another 30 days to go to the conciliation authority |
If your rent is still based on 1.5 or 1.75 percent, you can claim a reduction even without a new cut. For each 0.25 points, the federal government states a reduction of 2.91 percent in principle. Your lease or the last rent adjustment names the rate.
How to ask for the reduction
- Work out the figureRent calculators from tenant and landlord associations help.
- Print and signEvery tenant signs by hand.
- Post it at the counterAs registered mail, or hand it over against a signed receipt.
- Note the dateAfter 30 days without agreement, you have 30 more days for the conciliation authority.
Sample letter
In German. Print it and sign it by hand.
Vorname Name, Strasse Nr., Postleitzahl Ort
An: [Vermieterschaft oder Verwaltung, Adresse]
Herabsetzungsbegehren für die Wohnung [Adresse, Objektnummer]
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren
Mein heutiger Nettomietzins beträgt [Betrag] Franken und beruht auf einem Referenzzinssatz von [Satz] Prozent. Gestützt auf den gesunkenen Referenzzinssatz von 1,25 Prozent verlange ich eine Herabsetzung des Nettomietzinses um [Prozent] Prozent auf den nächsten Kündigungstermin.
Bitte antworten Sie mir innert 30 Tagen schriftlich.
Freundliche Grüsse
[Ort, Datum, eigenhändige Unterschriften aller Mieterinnen und Mieter]
What to know
- The landlord may set higher costs and part of inflation against the reduction. Do not count on the full figure.
- If you miss the deadline for the conciliation authority, start again with a new request.
- If the landlord does not collect the letter, see when an uncollected registered letter counts as received.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to ask for a Swiss rent reduction by registered mail?
No, but the Federal Office for Housing advises it. The law asks for a written request with a handwritten signature.
Does the landlord lower the rent automatically?
No. You have to ask. Without a request the rent stays as it is.
When does the lower rent apply?
From the next termination date after your request, at the earliest.
What if the landlord does not answer?
After 30 days you have another 30 days to go to the conciliation authority. If you miss that, start again with a new request.
Is an email enough?
No. The law asks for written form, which means a letter with a handwritten signature.
When is the reference rate published next?
On 1 December 2026, then on 1 March, 1 June, 1 September and 1 December 2027.