I am at your disposal for legal advice on questions of ownership, use, and transfer of real property.
Purchase and sale contracts for real property
In Switzerland, the purchase or sale of a plot of land requires public notarisation and only takes effect upon entry in the land register. Between the first letter of intent and this entry lie numerous points that need to be negotiated and set down in writing: purchase price and payment terms, transfer of possession and of benefit and risk, condition and fittings of the object, warranty for defects and any exclusion thereof, assumption of existing tenancies, and land transfer and real estate capital gains taxes. I review the draft contract prepared by the notary, negotiate with the other side, and make sure that your interests are not lost in standard clauses — whether you are on the buyer's or the seller's side.
Tenancy law questions
Swiss tenancy law is heavily regulated and in large parts mandatorily structured in favour of tenants. I advise landlords as well as tenants — for residential as well as commercial premises. Typical topics are the drafting and review of lease contracts, rent increases and reductions, service charge statements, defects in the leased object, subletting, terminations and their challenge, extension of the tenancy, as well as handover and return protocols. Because short deadlines and strict formal requirements apply in tenancy law, and the path first leads via the conciliation authority, an early assessment is particularly valuable.
Work contracts in connection with real estate
In new builds, conversions, refurbishments, or renovations, principals, contractors, architects, and planners meet — and with them different interests and contract frameworks. I support you in drafting and reviewing work, architect, and planner contracts, in agreeing on deadlines, cost ceilings, and payment schedules, as well as on questions of additional costs, construction delays, defects in the work, and acceptance. Should defects occur, I support you with timely notice of defects, the enforcement of rectification, reduction, or damages, and, where needed, with securing your position through a builder's lien — or defending against one.
Neighbour law clarifications
Where plots of land border each other, friction arises: excessive emissions from noise, smell, smoke, or vibrations; overhanging branches and roots; boundary distances and heights of plants and structures; view and shading; drainage of water; or entry onto the neighbouring plot for construction work. Alongside the Civil Code, cantonal introductory provisions and municipal building regulations are often decisive. I clarify for you what is legally permissible and what is not, and primarily seek a solution with which neighbourly life can continue — neighbour law disputes tend to drag on and burden all involved.
Legal support for real estate transfers
Not every change of ownership is an ordinary sale. Transfers within the family, advance withdrawals from inheritance and gifts, the allocation of a property in an estate division, the transfer within a matrimonial property settlement, or the contribution to a company each follow their own rules and entail different tax consequences. Often, third-party rights must additionally be taken into account or newly established: usufruct and right of residence, rights of pre-emption, purchase, and repurchase, easements and land charges, or existing mortgages. I structure the transfer, coordinate the sequence with the notary, land registry, and bank, and make sure that the desired result is also reflected in the land register.
