End-of-lease cleaning in Switzerland: complete guide
In Switzerland, handing back a property in a state of impeccable cleanliness is a contractual obligation of the tenant. Insufficient cleaning can lead to a deduction from the rental deposit. End-of-lease cleaning is a major concern for tenants.
This guide details the requirements and best practices for a successful end-of-lease cleaning in 2026.
What end-of-lease cleaning includes
A professional end-of-lease cleaning in Switzerland covers the entire property to exacting standards:
- The entire kitchen: oven (interior, racks, glass), hob, extractor hood and filters, refrigerator, dishwasher, worktop, sink, cupboards (inside and out), walls and ceiling
- The bathroom / WC: bath or shower, washbasin, toilet, descaled taps, grouting, wall and floor tiles, mirrors, ventilation
- Living spaces: floors (vacuumed and mopped), interior windows, blinds or shutters, radiators, doors (both sides), cupboards, skirting boards, sockets and switches
- Entrance and hallways: floor, walls, doors, shoe cupboard
- Professional products and equipment
As extras, you can add: exterior windows, cellar, garage, balcony/terrace, descaling of the washing machine.
What Swiss law says
Tenant obligations
Under the Swiss Code of Obligations (Art. 267), the tenant must return the property in the condition resulting from normal contractual use. In practice:
- The property must be clean and tidy
- Normal wear and tear is the landlord’s responsibility (yellowed grouting, slight marks on walls)
- Abnormal damage is the tenant’s responsibility (unfilled holes, stains, burns)
- The expected level of cleanliness depends on local customs and cantonal guidelines
Cantonal customs
Several cantons have established guidelines through tenant and landlord associations:
- Geneva: guidelines from ASLOCA and the Geneva Real Estate Chamber
- Vaud: French-speaking Swiss schedule for property restoration
These schedules define the lifespan of each component of the property. For example, paintwork has a lifespan of 8 to 10 years: if you leave after 9 years, the landlord cannot charge you for repainting even if the walls are slightly yellowed.
The rental deposit
The rental deposit (generally 3 months’ rent, the legal maximum under Art. 257e CO) serves to cover:
- Unpaid rent
- Restoration costs beyond normal wear and tear
- Cleaning if the property is not returned clean
The landlord must make any claims within the legal time limit after the property inspection. Once it has passed, the deposit must be released in full.
What affects the price
The price of an end-of-lease cleaning depends on several factors:
- Size of the property: number of rooms and surface area
- Condition of the property: standard cleaning or deep cleaning (oven, hood, blinds, limescale)
- Access: floor, lift, parking
- Extras: exterior windows, cellar, garage, balcony or terrace, washing machine descaling
- Date: demand is high around the termination dates
- Timing: a planned cleaning is easier to organise than one arranged at the last minute
To know the exact price, request a free quote: your request is passed on to professionals in your area, who get back to you with a free, no-obligation quote.
Step-by-step process
1. Planning (well before handover)
- Set the date of the property inspection with the property manager or landlord
- Book the cleaning company as early as possible, especially around the termination dates
- Request a free quote for end-of-lease cleaning
2. Preparation (before the cleaning)
- Completely empty the property — use a house clearance service if needed
- Carry out minor repairs: fill plug holes, replace blackened silicone sealant, change burnt-out bulbs
- Defrost the freezer and empty the refrigerator
3. Cleaning day
- The property must be completely empty when the team arrives
- Provide access: keys, codes, badge
- Duration: depends on the size of the property
- Inspection: check the result before the team leaves if possible
4. Exit inspection
- Schedule it after the cleaning to allow time to check and touch up if needed
- Be present at the inspection
- Compare with the entry inspection report
- Challenge any unjustified points immediately
Room-by-room cleaning checklist
Kitchen
The most demanding room and the most scrutinised during the inspection:
- Oven: interior stripped, racks and trays immaculate, glass clean (including between panes)
- Hob: degreased and gleaming, joints cleaned
- Extractor hood: filters cleaned or replaced, exterior degreased
- Refrigerator: inside and out, seals, drip tray
- Dishwasher: filter cleaned, seals, interior, cleaning cycle run
- Worktop: surface and edges, free of marks and stains
- Sink: descaled taps, cleaned trap, gleaming
- Cupboards: inside and out, top, hinges
- Floor: washed and dried, clean grout
- Walls and ceiling: grease and steam marks cleaned
Bathroom / WC
- Bath / shower: surfaces, silicone sealant, limescale-free shower screen
- Washbasin: descaled taps, immaculate mirror
- Toilet: bowl (top and bottom), cistern, seat, floor around
- Tiles: walls and floor, clean grout
- Bathroom cabinet: inside and out, mirror
- Ventilation: grille cleaned
- Washing machine: if provided, cleaned and descaled, detergent drawer
Living spaces (lounge, bedrooms)
- Floor: vacuumed and mopped (parquet, tiles) or shampooed (carpet)
- Windows: interior and exterior glass, frames, sills
- Blinds / shutters: slats or fabric cleaned
- Radiators: surface and between elements
- Sockets and switches: cleaned, no fingerprints
- Doors: both sides, handles, frame
- Cupboards: inside, shelves, rails, floors
- Skirting boards: dusted and wiped
Cellar and garage
- Floor: swept and if possible washed
- Walls: dusted
- Shelves: empty and cleaned
- Door: cleaned
- Removal of personal items and waste
Exterior (if applicable)
- Balcony / terrace: floor washed, balustrade cleaned, drainage cleared
- Garden: mowed, weeded, hedges trimmed, terrace cleaned
- Letterbox: emptied, name plate removed
Exit property inspection
How the inspection works
The exit property inspection is a crucial moment:
- Appointment arranged between tenant and property manager/landlord
- Room-by-room inspection of the entire property
- Checking of cleanliness, fixtures and general condition
- Report signed by both parties
- Meter readings (water, electricity if individual)
Tips for a successful inspection
- Be present: never let the property manager carry out the inspection without you
- Compare with the entry inspection report (keep it safe)
- Photograph the entire property the day before handover
- Challenge any point you consider unjustified immediately
- Do not sign the report if you disagree with certain findings — add written reservations
- Bring someone along from ASLOCA (tenants’ association) if in doubt
Do it yourself or hire a professional?
Advantages of professional cleaning
- Time saving: a professional cleans much faster than you would on your own
- Professional equipment: concentrated products, steam cleaner, floor scrubber
- Experience: professionals know the points that property managers systematically check
- Peace of mind: you reduce the risk of deductions from the rental deposit
When to do it yourself
Cleaning yourself can suffice if:
- The property is small (studio or 2 rooms)
- You are meticulous and have time
- The property is in generally good condition
- You know the standards expected by your property manager
Warning: a cleaning rejected by the property manager results in a second professional cleaning at your expense, often more expensive than if you had hired a professional from the start (the landlord uses their usual provider, with no price negotiation).
When to use this service
End-of-lease cleaning is needed in the following situations:
- Standard end of lease: you are leaving your property at the end of the lease, on one of the termination dates
- Early termination: you have found a replacement tenant or are leaving before the lease ends
- End of subletting: the subtenant is returning the property
- Death of the tenant: the heirs must return the property in a clean state
- Eviction: even in cases of eviction, the property must be returned in good condition
- Property swap: as part of an exchange within a housing cooperative
Tips for organising your cleaning
- Combine moving and cleaning — request a combined quote
- Clean the easier areas yourself (windows, empty cupboards) and leave the critical points (oven, bathroom) to the professional
- Completely empty the property before the cleaning team arrives
- Use a house clearance service before the cleaning to avoid costly back-and-forth
- Compare several quotes: request a free quote and compare what each one includes
- Avoid last-minute bookings
- Book early: around the termination dates, demand is high
Combining end-of-lease cleaning with the move
The most efficient combination:
- Morning: the movers empty the property — find out more about residential moving
- Afternoon: the cleaning team works in the empty flat
- Next day or same day: exit inspection with the property manager
Some professional movers in your area offer this turnkey service.
Request a combined moving + cleaning quote
Frequently asked questions
Questions fréquentes
Yes, the tenant is obliged to return the property in a state of cleanliness conforming to local customs (Art. 267 CO). It is not mandatory to hire a professional, but the result must be impeccable. If the cleaning is insufficient, the landlord can have it cleaned at your expense and deduct the amount from your rental deposit.
The property manager generally gives you a short deadline to redo the cleaning. If you cannot or will not, they commission a cleaning company and the costs are deducted from your rental deposit.
No, the landlord cannot impose a specific provider. You are free to choose the company of your choice, or to do the cleaning yourself. The landlord can only require a result, not a provider. If such a clause appears in your lease, it is considered abusive and unenforceable.
No, you hand over the keys at the exit inspection, which takes place after the cleaning. Schedule the cleaning before the inspection to allow time to check the result and make touch-ups if needed. Never hand over the keys before signing the inspection report.
Minor repairs (silicone sealant, filled plug holes, replacing a tap washer) are generally the tenant's responsibility. Repairs related to normal wear and tear (yellowed paint, worn floors) are the landlord's responsibility, according to the fixture lifespan schedule. If in doubt, consult the ASLOCA in your canton.
As early as possible, especially around the termination dates when demand is very high. Schedule the cleaning shortly before the inspection, to allow time to check the result and make any touch-ups.