Part IV: Handover
1. General Principles of Handover
The handover (Übergabe / remise de clés) is the formal moment when your newly built apartment is delivered by the developer and you take legal possession. It also marks the starting point for warranty periods, and your responsibility for the property begins.
This chapter explains what to expect, your legal rights, and how to prepare for the inspection — including what to bring and what to check.
1.1 What the Law Says About Accepting or Rejecting Handover
Under Swiss law (Article 371 of the Code of Obligations), once the developer declares the unit ready and offers handover:
- You are required to attend and inspect the apartment in good faith.
- You must either accept or reject the handover at that time.
- If you sign the handover protocol (Abnahmeprotokoll / procès-verbal de réception) without reservations, this counts as acceptance of the apartment as delivered — and any visible defects are considered accepted unless documented.
However:
- You can accept the handover with written reservations, e.g. listing issues that must be corrected.
- You cannot reject the handover just because of minor defects — only if the apartment is clearly incomplete or has serious issues that make it uninhabitable or unsafe.
- The five-year warranty period for hidden defects (garantie des défauts / Mängelgewährleistung) begins at handover.
It is very useful to bring an independent building expert to assist you during the inspection. An expert can help you evaluate the apartment more thoroughly, spot technical defects you might overlook, and ensure your concerns are correctly documented in the handover protocol.
Public excerpt
This chapter continues in the paid 2026 edition
The public site keeps the introduction visible for search and early research. The full chapter, including the detailed practical guidance, is part of the Huusli book.