Lease Translator
Works with German, French, and Italian leases. Plain English. Swiss Mietrecht explained.
How the Swiss lease translator works
Paste or upload your Swiss rental contract (Mietvertrag) in German, French, or Italian. The tool identifies risky clauses, explains your legal obligations in plain language, flags anything that deviates from Swiss tenancy law, and translates the full document into your preferred language. Most Swiss leases are analysed in under 30 seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Mietvertrag and what does it include?
A Mietvertrag is a Swiss rental contract. It is a legally binding document between landlord (Vermieter) and tenant (Mieter) that sets out the rent, notice periods, deposit rules, permitted use, and ancillary costs (Nebenkosten). Most Swiss leases use a standard cantonal template — but addenda (Zusatzvereinbarungen) can add clauses that significantly change your obligations. These addenda are where most surprises hide.
What kinds of risks does the lease scanner flag?
Common issues the tool flags include: deposit amounts exceeding the legal 3-month cap, notice periods shorter than the statutory 3 months, clauses requiring you to renovate at exit beyond normal wear and tear, restrictions on subletting (Untermiete) that are stricter than permitted under Swiss law, and Nebenkosten flat fees that cannot be challenged. It also highlights any clauses that deviate from standard Swiss OR (Obligationenrecht) tenancy protections.
How much is the rental deposit in Switzerland?
Swiss law caps the rental deposit (Mietkaution) at 3 months' net rent. The deposit must be held in a blocked bank account (Sperrkonto) in the tenant's name — the landlord cannot access it without your written consent or a court order. Any deposit clause exceeding 3 months is legally void. See our full guide on Swiss rental deposits for more detail.
What is the notice period for Swiss rental contracts?
The standard notice period for residential leases in Switzerland is 3 months, served on specific termination dates (Kündigungstermine) set in the contract — typically March 31, June 30, and September 30. Notice must be sent by registered mail (Einschreiben). If you miss the termination date by even one day, your notice is invalid and you are bound for the next period.
Can I upload a PDF of my Swiss lease?
Yes. Click the upload button next to the contract field and select your PDF, Word document, or text file. The tool extracts the text automatically. For scanned PDFs (image-only), the extraction may be incomplete — in that case, copying and pasting the text directly gives better results.
What languages can the lease be translated into?
The tool translates Swiss leases into English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, and Arabic. This covers the most common languages spoken by expats relocating to Switzerland. The translation preserves legal terminology and flags Swiss-specific terms that have no direct equivalent in the target language.