# Assisted living contracts: a checklist before you sign

> «Assisted living» is not a protected term in Switzerland – what you get is defined solely by the contract. The 12 points to settle before signing.

- Source: https://sorgimmo.com/en/blog/assisted-living-contract-checklist/
- Published: 2026-07-14
- Language: English
- Publisher: SorgImmo (ONLU AG, Cham, Switzerland) – https://sorgimmo.com

With assisted living, it is not the brochure that decides but the contract. «Assisted living» is **not a protected term** in Switzerland – there is no nationally binding definition. Two houses using the same label can offer anything from a bare emergency call button to daily care. So take the contract home, read it without pressure, and work through the twelve points below. The most important question is right at the end: what happens if care needs increase.

## How is the contract structured?

As a rule it consists of two parts that work differently in law:

- A **tenancy agreement** for the apartment, under the Code of Obligations. The usual tenancy protection against termination applies.
- A **care or services contract** for the support. Here, what was agreed applies.

Some providers combine both in a single document. That is permissible but makes things harder to follow. Ask which provision belongs to which part – particularly for notice periods, which can differ.

## The costs: three blocks to be read separately

Comparing rent alone reliably misleads. The monthly burden comes from three parts:

| Block | What it covers | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | the apartment itself | service charges on account or flat rate? |
| Care package fee | emergency call, contact person, advice | compulsory? adjustable on what terms? |
| Extras | meals, cleaning, laundry, transport | ask for individual prices in writing |

Actual **nursing care** runs separately through compulsory health insurance plus residual funding by canton and municipality – it is generally not included in the package fee. How total costs break down in practice is covered in the guide to [service charges in a senior apartment](/en/blog/service-charges-senior-apartment/).

Ask for a **sample bill for a realistic usage profile**: two meals a day, cleaning every two weeks, laundry weekly. That figure is comparable; the rent alone is not.

## The twelve points before you sign

1. **List of services.** Is there a written schedule of what the fee includes – and what it does not? Without it the contract cannot be assessed.
2. **Compulsory or not.** Is the care package fee mandatory even if you do not use the services? Is there a reduced option?
3. **Price adjustment.** On what grounds may rent and fee be increased, and with what notice?
4. **Availability of staff.** At what times is someone in the building? At night, at weekends, on public holidays? Or only by telephone?
5. **Emergency call system.** Who answers – a call centre or staff on site? How long until someone arrives?
6. **Notice periods.** Check the housing part and the care part separately. Can you terminate the care contract and stay living there?
7. **Trial period.** Is there a settling-in period with easier termination? Many houses offer this but do not put it in the brochure.
8. **Absence.** What applies during a longer hospital or convalescence stay? Does the fee continue?
9. **Structural adaptations.** May you fit grab rails or have the bathroom adapted? Who pays, and must it be reversed on leaving?
10. **Visitors and co-residents.** May someone move in or stay for an extended period – a daughter providing care, for instance?
11. **Deposit and share capital.** How much, repayable when, does it earn interest? With co-operatives this is a topic of its own.
12. **Care needs.** The most important point – see the next section.

## The key point: what happens if care needs increase?

Almost every house has a threshold beyond which it can no longer provide the care required. That is legitimate – a senior apartment is not a nursing home. It becomes a problem when the threshold is left vague in the contract and only surfaces in a crisis.

Get four things in writing:

- **Where exactly does the threshold lie?** Not «in case of increased care needs», but described in a way you can check.
- **Who determines it?** The management alone, or with a medical assessment?
- **What notice period then applies?** Weeks or months?
- **What is guaranteed?** A place in an attached nursing unit – or must you find somewhere new yourself?

Houses with an attached nursing unit have a clear advantage here. If there is none, that is not a reason to walk away, but you should know before signing.

## What to do if something stays unclear

Ask, and have the answer confirmed in writing – an email is enough and becomes part of the contractual basis. Reputable providers understand this; evasion is itself an answer.

Take someone with you as well. Four eyes read a contract differently from two, and the children often ask precisely the uncomfortable questions one skips out of politeness. For larger commitments – substantial deposits, long tie-in periods – an hour with an advice centre such as Pro Senectute or the cantonal tenants' association is worth it.

Which form of housing is right in the first place, and what the alternatives cost, is covered on the topic page [Assisted living](/en/assisted-living/). And if you are comparing several houses without travelling to each: a [360° tour](/en/blog/viewing-senior-housing-online/) shows door widths and layout in advance.

## Summary

- «Assisted living» is not a protected term – only the list of services in the contract counts.
- The contract usually combines a tenancy part under the Code of Obligations with a separate care part having its own notice periods.
- Never compare rent alone; compare a sample bill for a realistic usage profile.
- Nursing care runs through health insurance and is not included in the care package fee.
- Before signing, establish in writing where the care threshold lies, who determines it and what is guaranteed afterwards.
- Take the contract home and take someone to the meeting. Anyone pushing for a quick signature rarely has good reasons.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is «assisted living» a protected term in Switzerland?

No. There is no nationally binding definition and no protection of the title. Two offerings using the same label can differ enormously – from a bare emergency call button to daily care. What counts is exclusively the list of services in the contract, not the brochure.

### Which law governs the contract?

Usually it is a tenancy agreement under the Code of Obligations, often combined with a separate care or services contract. So the usual tenancy protection against termination applies to the housing part. For the care part, the agreed terms apply – ask which provision belongs to which contract.

### What is included in the care package fee?

This differs considerably between providers. Commonly included are an emergency call system, a contact person, advice and part of the activity programme. Usually not included are meals, cleaning, laundry and any form of nursing care. Ask for a written list of what is included – and what is billed separately.

### Is the care package fee compulsory?

With many providers yes, whether or not you use the services. That is permissible, but you should be aware of it: the fee permanently raises your fixed monthly costs. Ask whether a reduced option exists and under what conditions the fee can be adjusted.

### What happens if care needs increase?

This is the most important point in the whole contract. Most houses have a threshold beyond which they can no longer provide care. Get it in writing: where that threshold lies, who determines it, what notice period then applies, and whether a place in a nursing unit is guaranteed or you have to find somewhere new yourself.

### Can you be evicted from a senior apartment?

Normal tenancy law with the usual protection applies to the housing part, and termination is rare in practice. More common are contract clauses providing for a move when care needs exceed what the house can deliver. That is precisely the clause to read before signing.