BERN: Every three months the rate of interest used to set Swiss rents is reviewed. If it goes down some renters have the right to request a decrease in rent. On 1 June 2015 it was reduced from 2.00% to 1.75% so many currently have a chance to reduce their rent.
The interest rate used to set the reference rate is the average rate on Swiss mortgages at 31 March 2015. This rate is 1.86%, which rounds to 1.75% under the rounding rules. The average rate at 31 December 2014 was 1.89%, only 0.03% higher, however under the rounding rules, which round to the nearest 0.25%, 1.89% rounded to 2.00%. This latest reference rate drop to 1.75% is the first since September 2013.
In general if your rental contract links your rent to mortgage interest rates then you can demand a decrease in rent when this reference rate declines. The Swiss Association of Tenants, Romande branch, provides useful information on when and how to go about making a demand.
