Anyone who owns a property in the city of Zurich, on the Gold Coast or on the left lakeshore will sooner or later face the question: manage it yourself or hire a professional? This guide explains what services property management covers, what it costs and how to choose a suitable manager. The figures are guide values from industry sources, not price lists; the quote is always what counts.
Rent collection, reminders, utility cost statements, bookkeeping, budget and annual accounts, and correspondence with tenants and authorities.
Coordinating maintenance and repairs, commissioning tradespeople, handovers, monitoring service contracts and planning larger renovations.
Advertising, viewings, credit checks, tenancy agreements, apartment handovers and rent adjustments. The reference interest rate plays a role in rent adjustments.
Preparing and chairing the owners’ meeting, implementing resolutions, managing the renewal fund and representing the community externally.
The values are industry guide figures, as also shown in our guide to property management costs in Switzerland.
Example: 12 apartments at CHF 2,000 net monthly rent each give CHF 288,000 annual rent.
| Fee rate | Fee per year | per apartment and month |
|---|---|---|
| 4 % | CHF 11,520 | CHF 80 |
| 5 % | CHF 14,400 | CHF 100 |
Example: a community with 12 units. Guide: base fee from about CHF 2,000 per year plus CHF 350 to 500 per unit [3]. With a base fee of CHF 2,000 to 2,500, that gives CHF 6,200 to 8,500 per year, or about CHF 517 to 708 per unit.
Services charged separately are also common, such as tenant changes, supervising renovations, extraordinary meetings or legal cases. Ask for a list of these additional fees.
Demand for housing is high: on 1 June 2026 the vacancy rate was 0.52 percent in the Canton of Zurich and 0.11 percent in the city of Zurich [2]. Lettings therefore go quickly, which lowers the effort of re-letting but raises the requirements for clean rent setting and communication. On Lake Zurich, properties often have a higher standard, with landscaping and pool or lift maintenance; clarify whether the manager uses its own specialists for these.
You can find providers in our directory: property management in the city of Zurich and in the Canton of Zurich. On the lake there are overviews for Thalwil, Horgen, Küsnacht, Zollikon and Meilen. For a general overview, see the guide What does property management do?. If you want to sell: estate agents in Zurich.
With only a few apartments the fee is high in proportion. Many owners manage themselves as long as time, expertise and distance allow. That changes with several tenants, renovations or residence abroad.
Yes. For condominiums the owners’ meeting decides; for rental properties the notice periods in the management contract apply.
Only what is clearly agreed as ancillary costs in the tenancy agreement. General administration effort is usually not included.
Note: General information, not legal advice. As of October 2026.
This article is for general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. No guarantee of accuracy; the current legal provisions prevail.
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