Abri PC
Civil-defense shelter (abri PC): a fallout/protection shelter required in most Swiss buildings, or a replacement levy paid in its absence.
Homewell glossary
The real-estate glossary
222 terms of Swiss and Vaud real estate, explained simply. Type a word and the list filters instantly.
222 terms
A
Achat immobilier
Real-estate purchase: the acquisition of a property, formalized by a notarial deed and recorded in the land register.
Acquéreur
Buyer: the person who purchases a property.
Acte authentique
Notarial deed (acte authentique): a document drawn up and signed before a notary, mandatory for any real-estate sale in Switzerland.
Actif immobilier
Real-estate asset: a property regarded as part of one's wealth or as an investment.
Administrateur PPE
Condominium administrator (administrateur PPE): the person or company in charge of running a condominium (PPE), including accounts, maintenance, and owners' meetings.
Acompte de charges
Advance on charges: a regular payment made by a tenant or co-owner toward costs, reconciled through the annual statement.
Affectation de zone
Zoning designation: the permitted use of a parcel set by the zoning plan, such as residential, commercial, or agricultural.
Agence immobilière
Real-estate agency: a firm that acts as an intermediary for the purchase, sale, rental, or management of properties.
Amortissement direct
Direct amortization: the gradual repayment of mortgage debt, which lowers the principal and the interest owed over time.
Amortissement indirect★ essential
Indirect amortization: repaying the mortgage through a pledged 3rd-pillar account, which preserves the tax advantage of carrying the debt.
Analyse de marché
Market analysis: a study of prices, supply, and demand in an area to position the value of a property.
APG
Loss-of-earnings allowances (APG): a federal social insurance covering military/civil service, maternity, and paternity leave.
Appel d'offres
Call for tenders: a procedure putting firms in competition for construction works or services.
Assurance bâtiment
Building insurance: coverage against fire and natural hazards; in the canton of Vaud this is provided by the ECA.
Assurance perte de gain
Loss-of-earnings insurance: coverage that makes up for lost income due to illness or accident.
Assurance RC bâtiment
Building liability insurance: the property owner's civil liability for damage caused to third parties.
Attestation de financement
Financing confirmation: a bank document confirming a buyer's ability to finance a purchase.
AVS
Old-age and survivors' insurance (AVS): the 1st pillar of the Swiss pension system.
AI
Disability insurance (AI): part of the 1st pillar of the Swiss pension system.
B
Bail à durée déterminée
Fixed-term lease: a rental contract with a set end date that cannot be terminated ordinarily before that date.
Bail à durée indéterminée
Open-ended lease: a rental contract with no fixed end date, terminable subject to the statutory notice periods.
Bail commercial
Commercial lease: a rental contract for premises used for a commercial activity.
Bail de locaux commerciaux
Lease of commercial premises: the rental of space for professional or commercial use, subject to its own rules.
Bailleur
Landlord: the owner who rents out a property.
Banque dépositaire
Custodian bank: a bank that holds pension assets or funds tied to a transaction.
Bien de rendement
Income property: a property held for the rental income it generates.
Bien immobilier
Real property: land, a building, or a co-ownership share, as opposed to movable property.
Bonus de densification
Density bonus: additional building rights granted to encourage densification, for example for energy performance or public-benefit housing.
Bâtiment Minergie
Minergie building: a construction certified to the Swiss Minergie low-energy-consumption standard.
C
Cadastre
Cadastre: the official register describing parcels, their boundaries, and their area.
Capacité d'emprunt
Borrowing capacity: the amount a household can borrow based on its income and equity.
Capacité financière
Financial capacity (affordability): the ability to sustainably bear a property's costs, measured through the affordability ratio and equity.
Capital propre
Equity capital: the buyer's own funds, as opposed to the mortgage debt.
Carnet d'entretien
Maintenance logbook: a document listing the history of works and upkeep on a property.
Cave
Cellar: a basement storage space, often attached to an apartment.
Caution de loyer
Rental deposit: a security provided by the tenant, capped at three months of net rent.
CCB
CCB: a cantonal abbreviation relating to buildings; in the canton of Vaud, energy performance is referred to mainly through the CECB.
CECB★ essential
Cantonal building energy certificate (CECB): rates a property's energy performance from A to G.
Cédules hypothécaires★ essential
Mortgage notes (cédules hypothécaires): a real-estate collateral certificate, on paper or registered, used to secure a mortgage loan.
Certificat énergétique
Energy certificate: a document assessing a building's energy consumption; in Switzerland, the CECB.
Charges de copropriété
Condominium charges: the shared costs of a condominium (PPE) building, split among co-owners according to their ownership shares.
Charges locatives
Rental charges: ancillary costs (heating, water, common-area upkeep) billed to the tenant on top of the net rent.
Clause suspensive
Condition precedent: a clause that suspends a contract's effects until it is met, such as securing financing.
Coefficient d'occupation du sol (COS)
Site coverage ratio (COS): the ratio of the building footprint to the parcel area.
Coefficient d'utilisation du sol (CUS)
Floor area ratio (CUS): the ratio of the permitted floor area to the parcel area.
Commission de courtage
Brokerage commission: the broker's compensation upon a sale, usually a percentage of the price.
Compte de consignation
Escrow account: a blocked account where funds are held pending resolution, for example a disputed rent.
Conditions suspensives
Conditions precedent: the set of conditions that must be met for a sale to become final.
Contrat de bail
Lease agreement: a rental contract setting out the rights and obligations of landlord and tenant.
Contrat de courtage
Brokerage contract: an agreement entrusting a broker with finding a buyer or tenant.
Contrat de réservation
Reservation agreement: an arrangement by which a buyer reserves a property, often off-plan, in exchange for a deposit.
Contrat de vente
Sale contract: a real-estate sale deed, executed in notarial form before a notary.
Copropriété
Co-ownership: ownership of a property shared among several people, often organized as a condominium (PPE).
Courtage immobilier
Real-estate brokerage: the activity of acting as an intermediary between sellers and buyers, or landlords and tenants.
Crédit de construction
Construction loan: a short-term loan financing the works, converted into a mortgage once the project is complete.
Crédit hypothécaire
Mortgage loan: a loan secured by real-estate collateral, financing the purchase of a property.
D
Date de transfert
Transfer date: the date on which ownership and risk pass to the buyer.
Délai de résiliation
Notice period: the statutory or contractual notice required to terminate a lease.
Densification
Densification: a policy of more intensive use of built-up land to curb urban sprawl.
Dépôt de garantie
Security deposit: a sum paid to guarantee a commitment, in a rental or a reservation.
Diagnostic énergétique
Energy assessment: an evaluation of a building's energy performance and possible improvements.
Domicile fiscal
Tax domicile: the place where a person is primarily taxed.
Don manuel immobilier
Gift of real estate: a donation of property; for real estate it requires a notarial deed, since a simple hand-to-hand gift is not enough.
Droit d'emption
Purchase option (droit d'emption): the right to buy a property on terms set in advance, enforceable against third parties if noted in the land register.
Droit de gage★ essential
Lien (droit de gage): a right securing a claim against property; for a mortgage, it is the real-estate lien.
Droit de passage
Right of way: an easement allowing passage across another person's land.
Droit de préemption★ essential
Right of first refusal (droit de préemption): the right to be preferred over any other buyer, at an equal price, in a sale.
Droit de superficie★ essential
Building right / ground lease (droit de superficie, DDP): a real right allowing one to build and own a building on another person's land.
Droit réel
Real right: a right bearing directly on a thing and enforceable against everyone, such as ownership, easement, or lien.
Droits de mutation
Transfer duties (droits de mutation): a cantonal tax on the transfer of real-estate ownership; 3.3% of the price in the canton of Vaud.
E
ECA
ECA: the Vaud cantonal insurance institution, which mandatorily insures buildings against fire and natural hazards.
Échéance hypothécaire
Mortgage maturity: the date on which a mortgage tranche comes due and must be renewed.
Émoluments
Fees (émoluments): charges collected by the notary, the land register, or the administration for their services.
Emprunt hypothécaire
Mortgage borrowing: a loan secured by real-estate collateral, synonymous with a mortgage loan.
Enveloppe thermique
Thermal envelope: all the surfaces insulating a building from the outside, such as walls, roof, and windows.
Estimation immobilière★ essential
Property valuation: an estimate of a property's market value using comparison, the hedonic method, or the income approach.
État des lieux
Condition report (état des lieux): a record of a dwelling's condition at a tenant's move-in and move-out.
Expertise immobilière
Property appraisal: an in-depth assessment of a property's value carried out by an expert.
Extrait cadastral
Cadastral extract: an official document describing a parcel and its characteristics.
Extrait du registre foncier
Land register extract: an official document certifying a property's owner, easements, and liens.
F
Façade ventilée
Ventilated facade: a facade system with a ventilated air gap that improves insulation and durability.
Financement hypothécaire
Mortgage financing: the combination of loans and equity used to fund a real-estate purchase.
Fonds de rénovation★ essential
Renovation fund: a reserve built up by a condominium (PPE) to finance major future works.
Fonds de réserve
Reserve fund: a co-ownership's provision set aside for unexpected or future expenses.
Fonds propres★ essential
Equity (down payment): the buyer's own contribution, at least 20% of the price, of which 10% must come from sources other than the 2nd pillar.
Frais d'acquisition
Acquisition costs: charges added to the purchase price, such as notary fees, transfer duties, and land-register fees.
Frais de courtage
Brokerage fees: the broker's fees, usually borne by the seller.
Frais de mutation
Transfer fees: transfer duties, the tax on the transfer of ownership, namely 3.3% of the price in the canton of Vaud.
Frais de notaire
Notary fees: the notary's fees and disbursements for drawing up the sale deed.
G
Gain immobilier
Real-estate gain: the capital gain realized on the sale of a property, subject to the real-estate capital gains tax.
Garantie bancaire
Bank guarantee: a bank's commitment to cover an obligation, for example a rent guarantee.
Garantie de loyer
Rent guarantee: a security provided by the tenant, capped at three months of net rent, held in a blocked account.
Gérance immobilière
Property management (gérance): the administrative, technical, and accounting management of a property on the owner's behalf.
Gérance locative
Rental management: managing a property's rentals, including finding tenants, collecting rent, and upkeep.
Gage immobilier
Real-estate lien: a security interest encumbering a property to secure a debt, such as a mortgage or a mortgage note.
H
Habitation principale
Primary residence: the dwelling where one lives most of the year.
Habitation secondaire
Secondary residence: a dwelling occupied occasionally, subject to the Lex Weber in certain municipalities.
Home staging
Home staging: enhancing a property for sale through decluttering, neutralizing the decor, and styling it.
Hypothèque
Mortgage: a loan secured by a real-estate lien.
Hypothèque SARON★ essential
SARON mortgage: a variable-rate mortgage based on the SARON reference rate.
Hypothèque fixe★ essential
Fixed-rate mortgage: a mortgage with a rate and term set in advance, offering budget predictability.
I
IBUS
Gross floor area ratio (IBUS): the ratio of the gross floor area to the parcel area.
ICC
Cantonal and communal tax (ICC).
IFD
Direct federal tax (IFD).
IGI
Real-estate capital gains tax (IGI): levied on the gain realized upon resale.
Immeuble de rendement
Income building: a rental building held for its income.
Impôt foncier
Property tax: a cantonal or communal tax calculated on the value of the property.
Impôt sur le gain immobilier★ essential
Real-estate capital gains tax: a tax on the gain realized at sale, decreasing with the length of ownership.
Impôt sur la fortune immobilière
Real-estate wealth tax: taxation of the property's fiscal value, from which the mortgage debt is deducted.
Indice brut d'utilisation du sol
Gross floor area index: the building density allowed on a parcel, see IBUS.
Inscription au registre foncier
Land register entry: the formality that makes ownership and real rights enforceable against third parties.
Investissement immobilier
Real-estate investment: placing capital in property in pursuit of income or a capital gain.
L
LAT
Federal Spatial Planning Act (LAT).
LATC
Vaud Spatial Planning and Construction Act (LATC).
Lex Koller★ essential
Lex Koller: a law restricting the acquisition of real estate by persons domiciled abroad.
Lex Weber
Lex Weber: a constitutional provision capping secondary residences at 20% in municipalities that exceed this threshold.
LFAIE
LFAIE: the Federal Act on the Acquisition of Real Estate by Persons Abroad, the basis of the Lex Koller.
Libre passage
Vested benefits (libre passage): keeping 2nd-pillar pension assets outside an employer, on an account or policy.
LFLP
LFLP: the Vested Benefits Act for occupational pensions.
Local commercial
Commercial premises: space intended for a commercial or professional activity.
Location meublée
Furnished rental: renting out a dwelling that comes with its furniture.
Logement subventionné
Subsidized housing: rent-controlled housing benefiting from public assistance.
Loi sur le bail
Tenancy law: the provisions of the Code of Obligations governing residential leases.
Lot PPE
Condominium unit (lot PPE): a unit within a condominium (PPE), namely the apartment and its share of the common areas.
Loyer brut
Gross rent: rent that includes the charges.
Loyer charges comprises
Rent including charges: rent that combines the net rent and the ancillary charges.
Loyer net
Net rent: rent excluding ancillary charges.
LPP★ essential
Occupational Pensions Act (LPP): the 2nd pillar, which can be drawn on to buy a home.
LPPPL★ essential
LPPPL: the Vaud Act on the Preservation and Promotion of the Rental Housing Stock (840.15, in force since 2018); it regulates the demolition, conversion, renovation, and unit-by-unit sale of rented dwellings, and grants municipalities a right of first refusal in shortage areas.
M
Mandat de courtage
Brokerage mandate: a contract entrusting a broker with selling or searching for a property.
Marché immobilier
Real-estate market: the overall supply of and demand for properties in a region.
Mensualité hypothécaire
Monthly mortgage payment: the amount paid each month toward interest and amortization.
Minergie
Minergie: a Swiss label for buildings with low energy consumption and good comfort.
Minergie-A
Minergie-A: the Minergie standard for buildings with a near-zero energy balance.
Minergie-P
Minergie-P: the most demanding Minergie standard in terms of low energy consumption.
Mise en valeur
Showcasing: all the actions taken to present a property at its best before sale.
Mutation immobilière
Property transfer: a change of owner recorded in the land register.
N
Nantissement
Pledge (nantissement): pledging an asset, for example a 3rd-pillar account, as security for a loan.
Norme SIA
SIA standard: a technical standard issued by the Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects.
Notaire
Notary: a public officer who executes notarial deeds, including real-estate sales.
O
Objet immobilier
Listing: a property offered for sale or rent.
Occupation propre
Owner occupancy: the use of a property by its owner as their own home.
Offre d'achat
Purchase offer: a written proposal to buy a property at a given price.
OPP2
OPP2: the Ordinance on Occupational Pensions, 2nd pillar.
ORF
ORF: the Land Register Ordinance.
P
Parcelle
Parcel: a unit of land that is delimited and recorded in the land register.
Part PPE
Condominium share (part PPE): a co-owner's share in a condominium (PPE).
Permis de construire
Building permit: the administrative authorization required to build or convert.
Plan cadastral
Cadastral map: a graphic representation of parcels and their boundaries.
Plan de quartier
Neighborhood plan: a detailed zoning plan setting the construction rules for an area.
Plus-value immobilière
Real-estate capital gain: the increase in a property's value between purchase and sale.
PPE★ essential
Condominium ownership (PPE): a co-ownership giving an exclusive right over a lot (your apartment) and a share of the common areas.
PPE horizontale
Horizontal condominium: a condominium (PPE) divided among buildings or houses of a single development rather than among floors.
PPE verticale
Vertical condominium: a classic condominium (PPE) divided among the floors of a single building.
Prélèvement LPP
LPP withdrawal: an early withdrawal from the 2nd pillar to finance one's primary residence.
Prévoyance 3a★ essential
Pillar 3a (restricted): the tied 3rd pillar, tax-privileged savings that can be used to buy a home.
Prévoyance 3b
Pillar 3b (flexible): the free 3rd pillar, private savings without the constraints of pillar 3a.
Prix au m²
Price per m²: the price relative to floor area, useful for comparing properties.
Prix de vente
Sale price: the amount for which a property is sold.
Produit de rendement
Income product: a property or portfolio held for its rental income.
Promesse de vente
Promise of sale: a notarized commitment to sell and to buy on agreed terms.
Propriété collective
Collective ownership: property held jointly, whether as co-ownership or as common ownership.
Propriété commune
Common ownership: undivided ownership without defined shares, for example an inheritance community.
Propriété individuelle
Sole ownership: property held by a single person.
Propriété par étages
Condominium ownership: co-ownership with an exclusive right over a lot, see PPE.
Q
Quotité PPE★ essential
Condominium share ratio (quotité PPE): a lot's share in the condominium (PPE), expressed in thousandths, which sets the charges and voting rights.
Quote-part
Share (quote-part): the fraction of ownership or charges attributable to a co-owner.
R
RC bâtiment
Building liability: the civil liability of a property owner.
Réduction de loyer
Rent reduction: a decrease in rent a tenant can demand when the property is defective.
Registre foncier★ essential
Land register: the official public register of properties, owners, easements, and liens.
Relocation
Re-letting: renting out a property again after a tenant leaves.
Rendement brut
Gross yield: annual rents relative to the purchase price, before charges and taxes.
Rendement net
Net yield: the yield after charges, maintenance, vacancy, and taxes.
Rendement locatif★ essential
Rental yield: the income generated by a rented property, relative to its value.
Réserve de rénovation
Renovation reserve: a provision for major works in a condominium (PPE), see renovation fund.
Résidence principale
Main residence: the dwelling where one lives primarily.
Résidence secondaire
Secondary residence: a leisure dwelling, subject to the Lex Weber in the municipalities concerned.
Résiliation de bail
Lease termination: the act ending a rental contract, subject to strict deadlines and formalities.
RLATC
RLATC: the implementing ordinance of the Vaud Spatial Planning and Construction Act.
S
SARON★ essential
SARON (Swiss Average Rate Overnight): the reference rate of the Swiss money market, the basis for variable-rate mortgages.
SBP
Gross floor area (SBP): the sum of the floor areas of all levels, used to assess density.
Servitude★ essential
Easement (servitude): a charge encumbering a property for the benefit of another property or person, such as a right of way, view, or pipeline.
Servitude de passage
Right-of-way easement: the right to pass over another person's land.
Servitude de vue
View easement: an easement regulating or guaranteeing a view between two properties.
Servitude de canalisation
Pipeline easement: the right to run pipes across another person's land.
SIA
SIA: the Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects, which issues reference standards.
Sous-location
Subletting: the tenant's rental of all or part of the property to a third party, with the landlord's consent.
Surface brute
Gross area: area measured to the outer edges, including walls.
Surface brute de plancher
Gross floor area: the total floor area of a building, see SBP.
Surface habitable
Living area: the actual livable area of a dwelling, excluding walls and ancillary spaces.
Surface nette
Net area: the usable interior area, excluding walls.
Surface pondérée
Weighted area: area adjusted by coefficients according to how the spaces are used, for example balconies and cellars.
Surface utile
Usable area: the exploitable area of a property according to its intended use.
SVIT
SVIT: the Swiss real-estate industry association, bringing together property managers and brokers.
T
Taux d'effort
Affordability ratio: the ratio of the dwelling's theoretical costs to income, capped at about 33%.
Taux de capitalisation
Capitalization rate: the rate used to convert rents into an income value.
Taux de référence hypothécaire★ essential
Reference mortgage rate: the official rate used as the basis for adjusting rents in Switzerland.
Terrain constructible
Buildable land: land located in a building zone that can be serviced with utilities.
Terrain agricole
Agricultural land: land in an agricultural zone, with regulated use and transfer.
Terrain en zone à bâtir
Land in a building zone: land designated for construction by the zoning plan.
Terrain viabilisé
Serviced land: land connected to utilities such as water, electricity, road, and sewers.
TVA
Value-added tax (TVA): applicable to certain real-estate transactions.
U
USPI
USPI: the Swiss Union of Real-Estate Professionals.
Usufruit
Usufruct: the right to use a property and collect its income without owning it.
V
Valeur assurance
Insured value: the value at which a building is insured, corresponding to the rebuilding cost.
Valeur cadastrale
Cadastral value: a property's official value used as the basis for certain taxes.
Valeur locative★ essential
Imputed rental value (valeur locative): a notional income taxed on owners who occupy their home; its abolition was approved by referendum in 2025, with entry into force expected in 2029.
Valeur vénale★ essential
Market value (valeur vénale): a property's market value, that is the price achievable in a normal sale.
Vente à terme★ essential
Forward sale: a sale whose transfer of ownership is deferred to a future date or condition.
Vente conditionnelle
Conditional sale: a sale subject to the fulfillment of conditions precedent.
Vente en bloc
Block sale: the sale of an entire building or a set of units in a single transaction.
Vente sur plan
Off-plan sale: the sale of a property before or during its construction, based on the plans.
Viager
Life annuity sale (viager): a sale in which the buyer pays the seller an annuity, often until the seller's death.
Viabilisation
Servicing: connecting a parcel to utilities and infrastructure.
Z
Zone agricole
Agricultural zone: a zone reserved for farming, where construction is heavily restricted.
Zone artisanale
Trade zone: a zone intended for craft trades and light industrial activities.
Zone constructible
Buildable zone: a zone where construction is permitted under the zoning plan.
Zone d'habitation
Residential zone: a zone designated primarily for housing.
Zone industrielle
Industrial zone: a zone reserved for industrial activities.
Zone mixte
Mixed-use zone: a zone allowing housing alongside compatible activities.
Zone protégée
Protected zone: a zone subject to protective measures for heritage, nature, or landscape.
A term missing or a question left? Ask a broker.