Switzerland: templates and forms

For people in Switzerland who authorise someone for one precisely described matter, in French: collecting a parcel or documents, handing in a vehicle's plates, voting at a meeting, attending the move-out inspection (Art. 32 ff. CO). With an end date, without land or acts needing a public deed; settlements and gifts only if the matter expressly describes them (Art. 396 para. 3 CO). Sign it and give it to the person you appoint.

For tenants in Switzerland whose rent was set at a higher reference mortgage rate than the current one: the written request to the landlord or the régie for a lower rent under Art. 270a of the Code of Obligations (CO), from the next termination date. It gives the rate your rent is based on, the current rate, the cut you ask for and the 30 days the landlord has to respond, and names your canton's conciliation authority should the landlord refuse. Check your entitlement first with the tenants' association ASLOCA's free calculator. Every tenant signs; send by registered post. In French.

For anyone renting a flat in Switzerland who wants to leave: the notice letter to the landlord or the régie (managing agency), in the written form Art. 266l para. 1 of the Code of Obligations (CO) requires, with three months' notice to the lease's end date or else to a customary date (Art. 266c CO; in Vaud, 1 April, 1 July or 1 October), taking effect on the next date if the chosen one is missed. It has a line for every tenant and one for the express consent of a spouse or registered partner when the flat is the family home (Art. 266m CO), and asks for a move-out inspection and the release of the rent deposit. Print, sign and send by registered post. In French.

For members and subscribers in Switzerland, in French: cancels a gym membership or other subscription at the end of its term, with the contractual notice period, because of a price increase, or for good cause such as illness, pregnancy or a move; it objects to any tacit renewal and asks for prepaid fees back pro rata. The Romand consumer federation FRC publishes a free model letter for gyms on frc.ch. Send it by registered post and ask for confirmation.

For debtors in Switzerland served with a payment order (commandement de payer), in French: you can object free of charge at once to the person handing over the payment order, who notes it on the order, or within ten days at the debt collection office, orally at the counter or in writing; no reasons are needed (Art. 74 and 75 DEBA). This letter is the written route with proof, in the office's official language: it objects to the whole claim or an exact part of it and asks for the free certificate. Send it registered, handed to the post office by the tenth day.

A resignation letter in French for employees in Switzerland: ends the employment with the contractual or statutory notice period (Art. 335c CO), or during probation with seven days or the period agreed (Art. 335b CO), on the date you choose or else the next possible date. It asks for confirmation, a work certificate (certificat de travail), the final pay with the salary certificate (certificat de salaire) and settles remaining holiday. The Code of Obligations requires no form, though contracts and collective agreements often do: print, sign, and send it registered or hand it over against a receipt.

For tenants in Switzerland leaving before the termination date: the letter telling the landlord or the régie that the flat will be handed back early and putting forward a replacement who is solvent and ready to take over the lease on the same terms (Art. 264 of the Code of Obligations, CO). It states the return date and the candidates, asks for an answer by a set date and lists the application papers enclosed. Print, have every tenant sign and send by registered post. In French.

For debtors in Switzerland who objected (opposition) to the whole claim, in French: asks the debt collection office (office des poursuites) under Art. 8a para. 3 let. d DEBA to stop disclosing the enforcement to third parties, at the earliest three months after the payment order was served. The office gives the creditor 20 days to prove proceedings to set the objection aside. The flat fee of CHF 40.00 is owed even if the request fails (Art. 12b of the fees ordinance). The Federal Office of Justice's model form is free. Sent by registered post to the office that issued the payment order, in its official language.

For tenants in Switzerland living with defects in their flat: the written notice to the landlord or the régie. It describes the defects, sets a date to fix them (Art. 259a and 259b of the Code of Obligations, CO), claims a rent reduction from when the landlord learned of them (Art. 259d CO) and can include the advance warning that rent will be paid into a deposit office, which Art. 259g CO requires before doing so. It names your canton's conciliation authority, free of charge. Print, sign, add photos and send by registered post. In French.

For policyholders in Switzerland, in French: terminates a supplementary health insurance, a household, liability, legal-protection or other insurance under the Insurance Contract Act (LCA) — ordinarily after three years with three months' notice (Art. 35a LCA), on the date the policy conditions allow, because of a premium increase, or for good cause, else on the next possible date. Basic health insurance (LAMal) is terminated by a separate letter. Send it registered; the Act also accepts text form such as e-mail.

For people in Switzerland leaving their health insurer, in French: terminates the compulsory basic insurance (assurance obligatoire des soins, LAMal) after the new premium is announced, for the end of the year (Art. 7 para. 2 LAMal), or with three months' notice for the end of June or December, for you and children insured with you; it names the new insurer and keeps supplementary cover running. To change on 1 January, the notice must reach the insurer by 30 November; the postmark does not count. The Federal Office of Public Health has a free model letter on priminfo.admin.ch. Send it registered or by A-Post Plus.

For tenants in Switzerland who have left their flat: the letter claiming back the rent deposit (Art. 257e of the Code of Obligations, CO). You pick the addressee: the landlord or the régie, asked to give the bank its consent, or the bank directly once a year has gone by since the lease ended without the landlord pursuing a claim through debt enforcement or a court action. It gives the bank, the account, the amount, your IBAN and a reply date. Print, sign and send by registered post. In French.

For employees in Switzerland, in French: asks for a full work certificate (certificat de travail), an interim certificate or a confirmation of employment (attestation de travail) under Art. 330a CO, or for the correction of a certificate that is wrong or incomplete, quoting the current and the requested wording and setting a deadline. A certificate may be requested at any time, also while you are still employed. Print, sign and send it to the employer by registered post.

For creditors in Switzerland, private persons and businesses, in French: asks the debtor one last time to pay a due claim by a date, states the reason, the amount, the account and 5 % default interest (Art. 104 CO), and otherwise announces the request for enforcement (réquisition de poursuite). You then file that request on the debt collection office's form or online through EasyGov.swiss; this letter does not replace it. Send it by registered post and keep a copy.

For buyers in Switzerland whose goods are faulty, in French: gives notice of the defect (avis des défauts) under Art. 201 CO as soon as it is found, and demands with a deadline repair under the guarantee terms, a fault-free replacement (Art. 206 CO), a price reduction or rescission of the sale (Art. 205 CO). Claims become time-barred two years after delivery (Art. 210 CO). Swiss law gives no right to send back goods bought online when nothing is wrong with them. Send it by registered post.

For customers in Switzerland, in French: cancels a mobile, internet, TV or landline contract at the end of its minimum term, with the contractual notice period, because of an announced price or contract change, or for good cause, and asks for written confirmation and how to return any equipment. Notice periods and minimum terms come from the contract and terms, not from a statute. Send it registered; in a dispute, the telecom conciliation body ombudscom can step in.