What does clearing a hoarder apartment cost?
Clearing a hoarder apartment (Messie-Wohnung) in Switzerland costs between CHF 3,000 and CHF 15,000 depending on the severity level. At level 1 a 3-room apartment runs about CHF 3,000 to CHF 5,000; at level 3, with structural strip-out and odour remediation, it runs CHF 10,000 to CHF 20,000.
For hoarder apartments — in Switzerland commonly called a «Messie-Wohnung» — no serious price can be quoted without an on-site viewing. The condition cannot be judged from outside, and the cost difference between the severity levels runs to a factor of five.
What pushes the price above a normal clearance: the far larger volume, the fact that the material can barely be separated into recycling fractions (which drives up disposal fees), the protective equipment that has to be changed several times a day, plus disinfection, odour neutralisation and, where needed, the removal of contaminated building fabric.
We treat these jobs confidentially. On request we arrive in unmarked vehicles and work in a way that draws as little attention as possible inside the building — which matters in a Swiss apartment block, where neighbours share the stairwell and the laundry room.
Guide prices by severity level
| Property | Typical volume | Guide price |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 — heavy clutter, hygiene still intactClearance + cleaning | 40–70 m³ | CHF 3,000 – 5,000 |
| Level 2 — spoiled food, odour, mould+ disinfection, odour treatment | 50–90 m³ | CHF 5,000 – 10,000 |
| Level 3 — faeces, vermin, building fabric affected+ strip-out, remediation | 60–120 m³ | CHF 10,000 – 20,000 |
| Disinfection, booked separately | — | CHF 600 – 2,500 |
| Ozone treatment, booked separately | — | CHF 400 – 1,500 |
| Pest control, booked separately | — | CHF 500 – 2,000 |
Guide values for the Zurich area, transport and disposal fees included. The price becomes binding after a free site visit.
What determines the price
These factors explain why two properties of the same size can cost very different amounts.
Severity level
Sets the order of magnitudeThe decisive factor. Between level 1 and level 3 the cost differs by a factor of four to five, for the same floor area.
Whether the material can be separated
+30–50 % disposal costWhen waste, food remains, textiles and furniture are compacted into each other, sorting is barely possible. Everything then goes out as mixed municipal waste (Kehricht) — the most expensive fraction at any Zurich incineration plant.
Protective equipment
+CHF 300–1,200From level 2 the teams work in protective suits with respiratory protection, changed several times a day. At level 3 separate changing zones are set up as well.
Building fabric
+CHF 2,000–8,000Once liquids have penetrated floors and walls, the floor covering, the screed underneath and the wall skirting have to be removed and the surfaces sealed.
Vermin infestation
+CHF 500–2,000With a relevant infestation, pest control has to happen before the clearance — otherwise the pests spread through the whole building during the removal.
What the price includes
Included
- Discreet viewing and written quote
- Complete clearance carried out with protective equipment
- Systematic search for valuables and documents
- Packing and containment of the material on site
- Transport and disposal
- Arrival in unmarked vehicles on request
- Photo documentation for the property management (Verwaltung) or the heirs
Costs extra
- Disinfection (CHF 600–2,500)
- Odour neutralisation (CHF 400–1,500)
- Pest control (CHF 500–2,000)
- Removal of contaminated building elements
- Renovation and painting work
Worked example: 2.5-room apartment, level 2, Zurich-Altstetten
- Labour: 3 staff × 2.5 daysCHF 4,200
- Protective equipment and consumablesCHF 480
- Disposal of 55 m³ / 5.8 t, mostly mixed wasteCHF 1,740
- DisinfectionCHF 1,100
- Ozone treatment, 2 passesCHF 780
How to bring the cost down
Concrete steps that actually move the price.
Act early
The severity level rises with time, and the cost rises faster than the level does. Between level 1 and level 2 there is often only half a year — and a doubling of the price.
Involve the person concerned
When the person has a say in what goes, more leaves the flat voluntarily and a relapse becomes less likely. A second clearance is the most expensive outcome of all.
Treat pests before clearing, not after
With an infestation, treat first. A clearance without pre-treatment distributes the problem through the building — and the follow-up costs are far higher than the treatment would have been.
Frequently asked questions
Get a binding price
A free site visit, then a fixed price with no follow-up charges.
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