Real rights: property and possessions

Parallel imports " Contrary to the song, my small business is in crisis and survives largely thanks to a few products of a very specific brand that I buy in a country known only to me, which is not at all to the liking of the Swiss importer of these life-saving goods. However, he had...

Neighbourhood dogs and their barking Relationships between neighbours are not always easy, and conflicts can sometimes arise and escalate. When it comes to dealing with our four-legged friends, Geneva's cantonal law on the protection of dogs has not changed.

The neighbour's trees are colonising my garden " Spring is officially back in Geneva with the first bud of the Treille chestnut tree. Unfortunately, like every year, it's also my neighbour who's going to turn me brown with his trees, which he doesn't look after and which are colonising my garden more and more. This year, I've decided...

Sharing co-ownership charges As owners of a private road, my neighbours and I have to pay the cost of repairing water pipes damaged by frost. However, we don't agree on how they should be apportioned: some argue that they should be paid in proportion to the surface area of the road, while others say that the bill should...

The right of dwelling is recommended here "When I reach the age where I can leave for the sun, I intend to give my son and his young pregnant wife the right to live in the villa I own... Is it necessary to draw up a lease? How can I be sure that I will be able to recover my property if they unfortunately have to separate...

Distance between trees and neighbours "I'd like to know if I can plant trees less than 3 metres from my neighbour's property. We're talking about trees that should be over 6 metres tall and I don't want to get into trouble with my neighbours." W., Geneva The question of planting trees and...

Acquiring an easement over time "For the past seven years, I've regularly used a dirt track to get to my chalet in the mountains. This path crosses other land belonging to my neighbour, who no longer wants me to use it. Haven't I acquired a right of way by car over time? "L, Valais...

Access to my property is impeded. What action should I take? "This winter, my neighbour blocked the access road to my property with a berm made of snow that had fallen on his own land. He doesn't want to make his property unsightly and doesn't mind hurting his neighbours. The municipal warden and the...

I've trimmed my neighbour's hedge: do I have the right to do so? I live in a villa overlooking a private road that belongs to both neighbours. Everyone is obliged to trim their hedge to the boundary of their property, which is marked by a low wall and a trellis. One of the owners does not comply with this boundary, and his hedge...