Real estate and construction law

My best friend is in a tricky situation. He needs to find a new place to live as soon as possible, but the housing associations keep rejecting his application because of his financial situation. I've agreed to act as guarantor so that he can get his head above water, but I'm wondering whether this exposes me to any...

My family has a chalet in the Alps, but it's old and apparently very expensive to renovate. I'd like to demolish it, rebuild it and use the opportunity to extend it a little, but a neighbour has told me that if I demolish it, I won't be able to do what I want to do because of the...

I've been looking for a house to buy at a reasonable price for a long time, and I was lucky enough to be offered a preview of a flat in a development zone in Geneva. I was just about to sign a reservation agreement when my application was rejected on the sole grounds that I live in the canton of Vaud,...

My neighbour has built a shed in his garden that requires planning permission. Apparently, he never applied for permission. After some heated exchanges with the authorities following a report, nothing has happened for a long time. I'm wondering whether the passage of time can benefit my neighbour and whether he...

We are two very unhappy co-owners in a condominium because an upstairs neighbour is playing miniature golf in his living room and has even created a small course through his furniture! In our view, this contravenes the building regulations, not least because it considerably increases noise pollution for the flats below when...

Surprise: the subcontractor hasn't been paid! "We contracted a company to refurbish the windows in our villa. The company carried out the work carefully and diligently, and we paid the invoice for CHF 14,000 that they sent us. What a surprise...

The house next to mine has been sold and I've just seen bulldozers arrive to find out that it's going to be demolished and replaced by a block of flats! I'm shocked that I wasn't informed, especially as the project for a new building that has been...

Housing cooperative and renovation costs I have been a member and tenant of a housing cooperative for over thirty-five years, since the building was founded. I recently obtained authorisation to renovate my bathroom at the cooperative's expense, on condition that my rent is increased by CHF 60 per month for 20 years, which...

Tenants' rights when faced with a rent increase " I own a house that I rented out a few years ago. New tenants have just moved in. The lease was signed a few days ago. The rent has been increased by 40 % compared with what the previous tenants were paying...