Rental deposit10. März 2026|

Rental deposit in a shared flat (WG) – who is liable?

Rental deposit in a shared flat: who pays, who is liable and how is it divided? All the key information for flat-share residents in Switzerland.

Shared flats are popular in Switzerland – especially among students and young professionals. But when it comes to the rental deposit, things quickly become complicated: who pays the deposit? Who is liable for damage? And what happens when a flatmate moves out? In this article, we answer the most important questions about rental deposits in shared living arrangements.

Flat-share models and their impact on the deposit

In Switzerland, there are two basic models of shared living that affect the rental deposit:

All members of the flat share are listed jointly on the tenancy agreement (joint and several liability): all flatmates are jointly liable for the rent and the deposit. In the event of damage or rent arrears, the landlord can hold any individual responsible for the entire amount.
One main tenant with subtenants: only the main tenant has a tenancy agreement with the landlord. The flatmates are subtenants and have a separate contractual relationship with the main tenant.

Joint and several liability – what does it mean in practice?

With joint and several liability – the most common flat-share model – all contracting parties are jointly liable for the entire rental deposit. This means: if one flatmate causes damage, the landlord can claim the costs from all flatmates – not just from the person who caused the damage.

This rule also applies to rent arrears. If one member of the flat share does not pay their share, the others must cover it. Joint and several liability can therefore represent a significant financial risk.

How is the deposit divided in a shared flat?

The law does not prescribe any specific division. In practice, there are various possibilities:

Equal distribution: each member of the flat share pays an equal portion of the deposit.
Division by room size: the share is based on the size of the respective room.
One person pays everything: sometimes the main tenant takes on the entire deposit.

What happens when a flatmate moves out?

This is one of the biggest pitfalls with shared flat deposits. When a member moves out and is replaced by a new person, the original deposit remains in place. The bank does not release the money partially. The departing person must recover their share directly from the replacement or the remaining flatmates – the landlord and the bank are not involved.

Our tip: regulate the division of the deposit and the procedure for changes in writing in an internal flat-share agreement. This avoids disputes later on.

Common problems and how to avoid them

No written flat-share agreement: without clear rules, disputes are inevitable. Set out in writing who bears which share of the deposit.
Room changes without a formal arrangement: document who takes on which share of the deposit with every room change.
Unclear responsibilities for damage: document the condition of the apartment with photographs at each flatmate's move-in and move-out.
Underestimated joint liability: ensure that all members of the flat share understand that they are responsible for one another.

Rental deposit insurance for shared flats

A rental deposit insurance from goCaution can be a particularly practical solution for shared flats. Since the money is not blocked in a joint restricted account, many of the typical problems associated with deposits in shared living arrangements are eliminated. When a flatmate changes, no money needs to be moved – the insurance remains in place and the premium can simply be divided among the flatmates.

Rental deposit10. März 2026

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