Affordable housing in Geneva - reduce your rent in 3 easy steps

Affordable housing in Geneva - reduce your rent in 3 easy steps

  January 16, 2017    Destination Leman - sejour tourisme, affaires

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The real estate market in Geneva is on average the most expensive of Switzerland, and landlords may take advantage of the situation to impose high rents. I explain here how to legally reduce an over expensive rent in 3 easy steps.



The solution to have your landlord reduce your rent does work as 2 close acquaintances have used it with success. That will help you spend less on rent and preserve your purchasing power, or save to buy your own place. This advice will be useful if:

• you are looking for a place,
• you found a place you like, were selected but are hesitant about paying the requested amount in rent,
• you have been looking for a long time, and are ready to accept the first offer, even if expensive.

Here are the 3 steps to follow, in order :

1. Verify whether the proposed rent is indeed excessive
2. Sign the lease
3. Launch the legal procedure

1.Verify whether the rent of your apartment is excessive

There are actually laws that limit the rent you pay and laws that set the maximum increase for your rent, the latter should be mentioned in your lease agreement. You can find online a tool that will automatically calculate whether the proposed rent is too expensive or excessive, on legal ground.
That rent calculator tool is accessible at this link: http://www.asloca.ch/calculateur-de-loyer.
This should not deter you from signing the lease agreement, it is actually a good thing, as you are going to get the flat, but at a lower rate !

2.Sign the lease agreement to secure housing

Then, you go ahead and sign the lease. Note that the landlord or regie should have you sign the "excessive rent claim form". That form should be sent with the lease agreement. That is all for that step, but be prepared as you have to act quick for the next step.

3.Launch the legal procedure to claim a rent reduction

So, in the 30 days following the signature of the lease agreement, you want to ask the landlord to reduce the rent, based on legal ground. Now, we do not all speak french nor have the time for this administrivia. So 2 options:

• you have time and you refer to the "Conciliation Board for Tenancy Matters" (CCMBL) to claim a rent reduction
• take the matter to Asloca, they will take care of it for you, provided you are a member of the "association".

Asloca specializes in defending tenants’rights. They have a close team of about 20 paralegals and lawyers, that will represent you in your request for a "baisse de loyer" (rent reduction). Asloca charges 70 CHF for the annual subscription; it is more comfortable solution because they will make the legal proceedings for you, and quite quickly. If you do it yourself with the CCMBL, it may take more time and energy, with the risk of missing something in the process.

In case you are passed the 30 days timeframe, you can still question the rent provided the landlord cannot provide the proof they sent you the “excessive rent claim form”.

2 of my colleagues have used Asloca and obtained  a 30% reduction of their rent, they stayed in the apartment for 7 years, so it is definitely worth fighting the fight ! I am looking for a bigger place now, and I know how to reduce my rent, should I find an excessively expensive place. 

And you, have you found other ways to reduce your rent: looking forward to reading from you in the comments section !