Building works where you live? Your rent can go down.
Noise, dust, scaffolding outside your windows: Swiss law entitles you to a rent reduction while works go on. Enter your address, we find the approved works and handle everything.
Free. If you get a reduction, we take 35%. If not, you pay nothing.
Works finished less than 5 years ago? They count too.
How it works
- Your addressWe find the building permits for your building and the surrounding area, published by the State of Geneva.
- Two minutes on your phoneYou enter your rent, receive a code by text message and sign with your finger. No forms to fill in.
- We write to your letting agencyOur lawyer approves the notice of defect, we send it by registered mail and negotiate. You follow everything online.
How much can you get back?
Geneva courts usually grant 5 to 25% of the rent during works, depending on the disruption. The most severe cases go higher.
Ranges taken from Geneva case law and legal literature (Lachat, Le bail à loyer). Every situation is different.
| Situation | Reduction |
|---|---|
| Scaffolding outside the windows, dust, noise | 5–12 % |
| Building site next door: crane, jackhammer, lorries | 8–15 % |
| Façade and works inside the flats | 15–25 % |
| Extra floors added to the building | 15–30 % |
| No water in the bathroom and kitchen | 30–50 % |
What it costs
Nothing upfront. We take 35% of the amount obtained, only if you get a reduction. If a lawyer has to step in, we pay for it.
Your rights are protected
Rent reduction is set out in Swiss law (art. 259d CO). A notice to quit given because you assert your rights can be annulled, including up to 3 years after a settlement (art. 271a CO).
Act early
The reduction runs from the moment the landlord is informed. The sooner your letting agency receives our notice, the more you get back.
About us
HelpHome is a Geneva team. We built this service because almost no tenant claims the rent reduction they are entitled to during works: the process looks complicated, and nobody wants to write to their letting agency alone.
Every letter is reviewed and approved by our partner lawyer, a Geneva tenancy law specialist, before it goes out.
Frequently asked questions
Will my letting agency hold my claim against me?
The works are approved: am I still entitled to a reduction?
What if the works are already finished?
How do I receive the money?
Does the whole building have to take part?
Can I stop along the way?
Check your building in 10 seconds
Details
In your building
Nearby
Source: State of Geneva building permits, updated daily.
Free. 35% only if you get a reduction.
What is disrupting you?
Tap everything that applies.
More details (optional): start of works, letting agency, earlier complaint
Your estimate
Your claim in 2 minutes
Mandate and power of attorney
To make the claim in your name, we need your signature on a mandate and a power of attorney. They allow us to write to your letting agency and negotiate for you.
- Free. We take 35% only if you get a reduction.
- You stay in control. No settlement without your go-ahead, and you can stop at any time.
- Lawyer included. If it needs to go further, we instruct and pay the lawyer.
- Protected by law. A notice to quit given because you ask for a reduction can be annulled (art. 271a CO).
- You are not alone.
Read the full mandate
We're on it.
Make your claim stronger
Keep this link: it lets you follow your claim and add documents. We also send it to you by text.