It's the question that always comes up for commercial premises. The rule is simple: the original installations — those that come with the walls — belong to the owner; whatever the tenant had installed afterwards (kitchen, fittings, modified panel) is at the tenant's expense. Defects are split the same way. And in every case, the owner remains responsible for the installation; the OIBT (the Swiss Low-Voltage Installations Ordinance) also places a responsibility on the operator, who must report any defect found without delay.
For commercial premises: every 10 years for most shop units and offices, every 5 years for restaurants and premises open to the public.
If the last inspection is more than 5 years old at the time ownership is transferred, a new inspection is required.
A tenant who alters the premises with a licensed electrician must notify the grid operator of the work with an “installation notification”. After the work and the electrician's final inspection, an acceptance inspection by an independent body must be carried out within 6 months.
Following our OIBT inspection: we tell you what falls to the owner, what falls to the tenant, and what has to be corrected.
A change of tenant doesn't oblige you to anything — but it's the right moment to inspect: the premises are empty, and the next tenant won't discover the previous one's surprises. Address + move-out date, we schedule in between, report ready before the next tenant moves in.
A table per property: use of the premises, inspection frequency, date of the last report, next due date, and tenant fit-outs done without any trace in the file, to be regularised.
Across a portfolio, or a large property, there are very often defects somewhere: that's what makes coordination worthwhile, whereas it makes no sense for a single isolated property.
Defects fixed the same day, report issued straight away. If you would like the corrections to be made during our visit, we organise the job with the electrician of your choice — or we give you two or three companies that work this way.
What you gain is time: the safety report goes out immediately instead of waiting several weeks. And a single visit to the operator, a single disruption to their business.
We have no in-house electrician and we take nothing on anyone else's work. That is the condition of our independence, and it is what gives our report its value.
Original installations, tenant fit-outs, undeclared work, change of tenant or owner: the rules, case by case, without jargon.
Describe your case — written answerThe rule applies even without a clause: the original installations of the premises belong to the owner, whatever the tenant had installed afterwards is at the tenant's expense. Defects are split the same way.
The work should have triggered an installation notification and an acceptance inspection. We regularise the situation: inspection of the installation as it stands, defects listed if there are any, file put back in order with the grid operator.
Yes. As an urgent job, we inspect within 2-3 working days and the report follows immediately.
No — nothing is compulsory at that point. It is, however, the ideal moment to inspect: the premises are empty, and the new tenant won't later have to bear the cost of fixing the installation left by the previous one. If the new tenant has work done, it must be notified to the grid operator, entrusted to a licensed electrician, and an acceptance inspection by an independent body is due within 6 months.
We invoice whoever commissions us — landlord, tenant or property manager.
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