Property management Zurich
Property management in Zurich for houses and flats
Victoria and Artur Pfeifer themselves manage single houses, smaller properties and let condominium flats in Zurich, on the left shore of Lake Zurich and in the surrounding area. They agree the fee with you individually before taking over.
Enquire about management- Managed by Victoria and Artur Pfeifer
- Fee by agreement
- Rent checked monthly
- Terminable at any time (Art. 404 CO)
alphakey GmbH, based in Wettswil am Albis, provides property management for single houses, smaller properties and let condominium flats in the city of Zurich, on the left shore of Lake Zurich and in the surrounding area. Victoria and Artur Pfeifer do the work themselves: checking rent monthly, sending reminders for arrears, settling ancillary costs, holding viewings. alphakey follows the mortgage reference interest rate (1.25 %, BWO announcement of 01.09.2026) and prepares an adjustment where one is possible. The fee is agreed individually; as a mandate under Art. 404 of the Swiss Code of Obligations (CO), the management contract can be terminated at any time.
alphakey GmbH, Wettswil am Albis · 09.11.2026
Who is alphakey's property management for?
alphakey's property management is intended for private owners of a single house, a smaller property or a let condominium flat in Zurich or the surrounding area.
Typical reasons for handing over management: you are moving away and keeping the house, you have inherited it, or you lack the time for statements and tenant changes.
- Single house: management for a single-family house, including from abroad
- Smaller property with a few rented flats
- Let condominium flat: rental management of your flat, not of the association
- House with an existing manager: changing property manager
What does rental management include?
alphakey's rental management covers seven tasks, from checking rent every month and the ancillary cost statement to tenant changes with viewings held by alphakey itself. The table lists each task and, where the law governs it, the relevant article.
On takeover, alphakey carries on the existing contracts and documents. You can see receipts and rent payments in an online overview.
| Task | What alphakey does | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | Check incoming payments every month, send reminders for arrears | Tenancy agreement, Art. 257c and 257d CO |
| Overview for you | Receipts and rent payments available online | Management contract |
| Ancillary cost statement | Prepare the statement; for ancillary costs paid on account, the law requires one at least once a year | Art. 4 para. 1 VMWG |
| Tenant change | Listing with photos and text, viewings held by alphakey, checking applications and creditworthiness, handover with a report | Art. 270 para. 2 CO, form requirement in the canton of Zurich |
| Rent adjustment | Follow the reference interest rate, prepare the adjustment | Art. 269d CO |
| Maintenance | Coordinate tradespeople, inform tenants | Management contract |
| Tenant requests | Receive and deal with tenants' requests | Management contract |
Who manages your house?
Victoria and Artur Pfeifer of alphakey manage your house themselves; the management is not passed on to another firm. alphakey also holds the viewings with prospective tenants itself, and your tenants' requests go to the same two people.
The service area covers the city of Zurich, the left shore of Lake Zurich from Kilchberg to Thalwil, and the surrounding area; the office is in Wettswil am Albis.
What does property management with alphakey cost?
alphakey agrees the property management fee individually with each owner; there is no standard price. What matters is the number of rental units, the size of the house and the scope of the tasks.
The fee is agreed before alphakey takes over the management; the management contract remains terminable at any time under Art. 404 CO. What management for a single-family house involves is set out on a separate page. Your enquiry is without obligation.
How does a change of tenant work in the canton of Zurich?
A change of tenant in the canton of Zurich takes four steps at alphakey: listing, viewings held by alphakey, checks of applicants' files and creditworthiness, handover with a report.
In the canton of Zurich, the landlord notifies the initial rent on the official form (Art. 270 para. 2 CO). The requirement has applied since 01.11.2013 for as long as no more than 1.5 % of dwellings in the canton are vacant (§ 229b EG ZGB); on 01.06.2026 the figure was 0.52 % (BWO, 2026 register). Since 01.10.2025 the form must also state the reference interest rate and the national consumer price index that applied to the previous rent (Art. 19 para. 3 VMWG).
If you only want to hand over the search, the tenant search for owners is also available on its own.
Listing
Advertise the flat with photos and text.
Viewing
alphakey shows the flat to prospective tenants itself.
Checks
Check applicants' files and creditworthiness.
Handover
Hand over the flat with a report and the keys.
What does the reference interest rate mean for your rents?
The mortgage reference interest rate is 1.25 %, valid since 02.09.2025 and unchanged at the announcement of 01.09.2026 (Federal Office for Housing, BWO). The reference interest rate does not change a rent by itself: the landlord must notify and justify an increase on the form approved by the canton, otherwise it is void (Art. 269d para. 2 CO). A reduction can be requested by the tenant in writing (Art. 270a CO). According to the BWO, the reference interest rate does not apply to index-linked and stepped rents, or to subsidised and luxury homes.
alphakey follows the BWO announcements, which are published four times a year (the next on 01.12.2026), and prepares an adjustment where one is possible for your house.
Which deadlines and forms apply to landlords of flats?
For landlords of flats, the CO and the VMWG prescribe deadlines and forms, from the ancillary cost statement to notice of termination on the official form. The table lists six of them according to the wording of the law (fedlex, as of 09.11.2026).
| Occasion | What applies | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Ancillary cost statement | For ancillary costs billed on account: prepare and present at least once a year; inspection of receipts on request | Art. 4 para. 1 VMWG, Art. 257b para. 2 CO |
| Arrears | Written payment deadline of at least 30 days with a warning of termination | Art. 257d para. 1 CO |
| Rent increase | At least ten days before the notice period begins, on the form approved by the canton, with reasons | Art. 269d para. 1 CO |
| Tenant's request for a reduction | Landlord must respond within 30 days | Art. 270a para. 2 CO |
| Termination by the landlord | In writing, on the form approved by the canton | Art. 266l CO |
| Deposit after the tenancy ends | The tenant can demand repayment from the bank if the landlord has not asserted a claim by legal means within one year of the end of the tenancy | Art. 257e para. 3 CO |
Does alphakey manage condominium owners' associations?
No, alphakey does not manage condominium owners' associations. The administrator of an association is appointed by the meeting of condominium owners (Art. 712m of the Swiss Civil Code, ZGB); the administrator carries out the joint administration, allocates the shared costs and collects the contributions (Art. 712s ZGB).
If you own a condominium flat that you let, alphakey takes on the rental management of that flat: rent, the ancillary cost statement towards your tenants, tenant requests and tenant changes.
Can the management contract with alphakey be terminated at any time?
Yes. A management contract is usually a mandate and can be terminated at any time under Art. 404 para. 1 CO; whoever terminates at an inopportune time compensates the damage caused (para. 2). This also applies to the contract with alphakey.
How to terminate your current contract, what to check beforehand and which documents the previous manager must hand over is set out under changing property manager.
How does management with alphakey begin?
Management with alphakey begins with your enquiry, which is without obligation, and a conversation with Victoria or Artur Pfeifer. alphakey takes over as soon as services and fee are agreed.
Enquiry
Address, number of flats and current situation: let, vacant, self-managed or managed by others.
Conversation
Victoria or Artur Pfeifer gets in touch by phone, WhatsApp or e-mail.
Agreement
Agree services and fee individually.
Takeover
Take over contracts and documents, carry on rent and ancillary costs.
Questions about property management
What is the difference between Liegenschaftsverwaltung, Hausverwaltung and Mietverwaltung?
In general usage, Liegenschaftsverwaltung, Hausverwaltung, Mietverwaltung and Immobilienverwaltung mean the same thing: managing a let house or flat on behalf of the owner; in English, property management. This is distinct from administering a condominium owners' association, whose administrator is appointed by the owners' meeting (Art. 712m ZGB); alphakey does not take on that role.
Where does the rent deposit go?
The landlord must lodge a cash deposit with a bank, in a savings or custody account held in the tenant's name. For flats, at most three months' rent is permitted (Art. 257e CO).
Which management costs may go into the ancillary cost statement?
The ancillary cost statement may include the administrative costs of preparing the statement itself, at cost or within customary rates (Art. 4 para. 3 VMWG). Tenants owe ancillary costs only if these have been specially agreed in the tenancy agreement (Art. 257a para. 2 CO).
I live abroad. Can alphakey manage my house?
Yes. Owners abroad can reach alphakey by phone, WhatsApp and e-mail. You can see receipts and rent payments in an online overview, and alphakey holds the viewings itself when tenants change.
Who deals with my tenants' requests?
alphakey deals with your tenants' requests. For repairs, alphakey coordinates the tradespeople and keeps the tenants informed.
In which municipalities does alphakey manage properties?
alphakey manages properties in the city of Zurich, on the left shore of Lake Zurich from Kilchberg to Thalwil, and in the surrounding area. If your house lies outside this area, include the address in your enquiry.
Legal information follows the wording of the CO, VMWG and ZGB as of 09.11.2026. It does not replace legal advice; for your individual case, contact the conciliation authority for tenancy matters in your district, a homeowners' federation such as HEV, or a lawyer.
- Obligationenrecht (OR), SR 220: Art. 257a, 257b, 257c, 257d, 257e, 266l, 269d, 270, 270a, 404 — fedlex
- Verordnung über die Miete und Pacht von Wohn- und Geschäftsräumen (VMWG), SR 221.213.11: Art. 4, 19 — fedlex
- Zivilgesetzbuch (ZGB), SR 210: Art. 712m, 712s (Stockwerkeigentum) — fedlex
- Hypothekarischer Referenzzinssatz — Bundesamt für Wohnungswesen (BWO)
- Verzeichnis 2026: Formularpflicht für die Mitteilung des Anfangsmietzinses, Stand September 2026 — BWO
- Leerwohnungsziffer bleibt tief, Medienmitteilung vom 18.08.2026 — Kanton Zürich
- Nebenkosten — Gerichte Kanton Zürich
Enquire about management for your house
Send us the address, the number of flats and how the house is managed today. Your enquiry is without obligation; Victoria or Artur Pfeifer will get in touch by phone, WhatsApp or e-mail.
+41 76 539 56 98