Swiss perspectives in 10 languages

Swiss landlords fear lawsuits for turning down heating

Person turns down thermostat on radiator
Turning down the heating in rented accommodation could lead to a legal quagmire. © Keystone / Gaetan Bally

Landlords and tenants are opposing government calls to reduce household heating to 19 degrees Celsius, warning it might spark a flurry of lawsuits.

The Swiss Real Estate Association, which represents landlords, warns that turning down the heating in rented accommodation could result in a legal backlash.

The 19 degree heating target was a specific measure contained in a voluntary energy saving campaign launched by the government in August.

More

But legal experts point to a 2017 Supreme Court ruling that said tenants are entitled to minimum heating of 20-21 degrees Celsius. This ruling has opened the door for tenants to sue for compensation should temperatures drop below that mark.

A government spokesperson told the SonntagsZeitung newspaper that the ruling allowed for reasonable deviations from this target.

But it remains unclear who would be legally accountable for turning down the heating – the landlord or the government who called for this action.

The Swiss Tenants’ Association has written to government to say a 19 degree target is unreasonable for elderly or vulnerable people.

“The current discussions prove that this measure simply cannot be implemented,” tenant’s association general secretary Linda Rosenkrantz told the SonntagsZeitung.

The newspaper also warns of possible heating oil shortages this winter caused by a lack of trucks and drivers to transport it.

Some 57% of Swiss households are rented by their occupants, which is one of the highest rental rates in Europe.

More
Una mano gira la rotella del termostato

More

Switzerland braces for winter energy crunch

This content was published on Explainer: why is there a risk of an energy shortage this winter? What is Switzerland doing to reduce gas and electricity consumption?

Read more: Switzerland braces for winter energy crunch


Most Read
Swiss Abroad

Most Discussed

News

Switzerland gets a new tectonic map

More

Switzerland gets a new tectonic map

This content was published on Switzerland has a new tectonic map at a scale of 1:500,000, containing updates to geometry, distribution and nomenclature of the tectonic units.

Read more: Switzerland gets a new tectonic map

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR