Process & handover
Handover Guarantee (Abgabegarantie)
Also known as: Acceptance guarantee · Abnahmegarantie · Übergabegarantie · Cleaning guarantee
The handover guarantee (Abgabegarantie) is a cleaning company's written commitment to rectify any objections raised by the landlord free of charge until the apartment handover is accepted. It shifts the risk of a refused handover from the tenant to the company.
Why the guarantee makes the difference
At a Swiss apartment handover the property manager decides whether the condition is acceptable. That judgement is subjective within limits, and standards differ considerably between management companies. Without a guarantee you carry that risk alone: if the handover is refused, you have to arrange remedial work at short notice — usually under time pressure and on worse terms.
With a handover guarantee the risk sits with the cleaning company. It has its own interest in working carefully, because any rework comes out of its own pocket.
What to check before you sign
A handover guarantee is only as good as its conditions. Clarify: does it cover cleaning defects only, or clearance defects as well? Within what deadline is rework carried out? Does someone attend the handover inspection? Are there exclusions — for example for damage that existed before the cleaning?
The boundary matters: a handover guarantee covers cleaning and clearance defects. It does not cover damage to the fabric of the property — a hole in the wall, a scratched parquet floor or a broken roller blind remain your responsibility.
How it works in practice
Ideally the cleaning company attends the handover inspection. Objections are then discussed directly and, where possible, fixed on the spot. If that is not possible, rework should be guaranteed within 24 to 48 hours — that is the only way to keep a handover date.
A case from practice
At a handover in Zurich-Höngg the property manager objects to grease residues on the extractor hood and limescale on two taps. Our team is present at the inspection and fixes both points within an hour. The manager accepts the handover at the same appointment. Without our attendance the handover would have had to be repeated — with rent consequences for the customer.
Services that cover this
Frequently asked questions about Handover Guarantee (Abgabegarantie)
Would you like a quote?
Free on-site assessment, a fixed price, and final cleaning with a handover guarantee (Abgabegarantie) — we stand behind the result at the official handover inspection.
Read the Google reviews: 4.8 out of 5 stars from 42 reviews4.8(42)