The PPE in brief
Ownership by floors (PPE) has existed in Switzerland since 1965. Each owner holds a co-ownership share in the land and building, with an exclusive right over their apartment; some spaces (garden, roof terrace) may carry an exclusive right of use recorded in the rules. The community of floor owners is not a legal entity, but it can sue and be sued.
The community may manage itself; beyond a small number of units, a professional administrator, appointed by the meeting, is recommended. The meeting is held at least once a year.
The renovation fund today
According to JuriUp, setting up a renovation fund currently depends on the administration and use regulations or a decision of the meeting; a minority owner cannot impose it. Banks and the Swiss association of floor owners recommend in practice paying into the fund every year (around 0.2 to 0.3% of the building's insured value) and aiming eventually for 6 to 8% of that value. These are practices, not legal rules.
What the bill provides
| Point | Content of the bill |
|---|---|
| Renovation fund | No obligation; court action to order creation or amendment of the fund after the meeting refuses |
| Who may sue? | At least two owners, or one if the community has two or three members |
| Procedure | Summary procedure; the judge sets annual contributions and duration |
| Off-plan sales | A distribution plan is filed with the land register along with the constitutive deed |
| Construction defects | Coordination meeting; repair possible with the agreement of a majority of owners representing more than half of the shares |
Where does the procedure stand?
The message was adopted by the Federal Council on 13 May 2026. The bill is before Parliament. After the final vote and the expiry of the referendum period, the Federal Council will set the date of entry into force: no date has been announced. The bill's article numbers may change and must not be cited as law in force.
Meeting majorities, according to the guides
- Measures to maintain value and usability in principle need a simple majority of the meeting.
- Measures that increase value (for example solar panels) need a qualified majority: a majority of owners and a majority of shares.
- An owner may also apply to the court for works essential to maintaining the building's value and usability (art. 647, para. 2, no. 1 CC, according to Raiffeisen).
- A meeting decision can be challenged within one month.
What to do now
- Check whether your regulations provide for a renovation fund and whether contributions follow a works plan.
- Commission an estimate of works over ten or twenty years to size contributions.
- Put the question on the meeting's agenda rather than wait for the reform.
Read more
Sources
- JuriUp — Nouvelle réforme de la PPE en Suisse : ce qui change (mai 2026)
- UBS — Qu'est-ce que la propriété par étages (PPE) ?
- Raiffeisen — Rénover son appartement : convaincre l'assemblée des copropriétaires
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Will the renovation fund become compulsory in a PPE?
No: the Federal Council gave that up. The bill would only create a right to ask a judge to order its creation or amendment after the meeting refuses.
Is the PPE reform in force?
No. The message was adopted on 13 May 2026; the bill is before Parliament and no date of entry into force has been set.
What contribution is recommended for a renovation fund?
Guides cite 0.2 to 0.3% of the building's insured value a year, aiming for 6 to 8% over time. These are recommendations, not obligations.
Track your funds and works
With Syndic Digital, centralise your condominium's budgets, renovation fund and meeting decisions.
Discover the appInformational article based on secondary sources (JuriUp, UBS, Raiffeisen); official texts (Fedlex, Parliament) could not be consulted. Not legal advice.