How much can the landlord ask for as a security deposit in Thurgau?

The maximum provided for by federal law (art. 253 et seq. CO) is three months' gross rent. The deposit must be paid into a restricted bank account in the name of the tenant or co-owner, and not into a free account of the landlord. Contractual clauses that provide for higher amounts are null and void.

Within how many days can the initial fee be disputed?

The tenant has 30 days from the notification of the new rent to file opposition with the conciliation authority regarding the lease of his district in Thurgau. The dispute must be substantiated, for example with reference to comparable rents in the area or unjustified increases in the lessor's costs.

How should the cancellation be communicated by the landlord?

The cancellation of the landlord is valid only if communicated through the official form of the Canton where the tenant is domiciled. Cancellations sent by informal means — simple emails, messages — can be considered invalid. The tenant retains the right to object within the terms provided by the CO.

Where to find data on average fees in Thurgau?

Rentals are collected and published by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO/BFS), with breakdown by Canton and region. The data are updated periodically and should be read as statistical averages: fluctuations of a few francs between one survey and another do not necessarily indicate a market trend.

Should you contact a lawyer to challenge a fee?

The procedure before the conciliation authority is free in the initial stages and accessible even without legal assistance. For large sums or complex cases it is advisable to support a legal office or a tenant association active in Thurgau, before considering the assistance of a lawyer.

Rentals in Thurgau: average fees, deposit and conciliation (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 7 September 2026

View of a residential neighborhood in Thurgau Canton with typical rental buildings

Rental market in the canton of Thurgau: how the security deposit works, when to challenge the initial rent and how to act before the conciliation authority.

Context

In a nutshell

Security deposit: maximum 3 months on a restricted account in the tenant's name
Cancellation of the landlord: valid only with the official cantonal form
Dispute of the initial fee: 30 days from the conciliation authority
Federal lease right: art. 253 et seq. CO, identical throughout Switzerland

Key facts

What: rental right applicable to rentals in the Canton of Thurgau
Where: Canton Thurgau, East German Switzerland
Who: tenants, landlords, cantonal conciliation authority
Legal basis: Code of Obligations (CO), art. 253 et seq.
Security deposit: maximum 3 months of rent, on a restricted account
Dispute deadline: 30 days from notification of the initial fee
Term of cancellation of the landlord: subject to official form of the Canton

The rental market in the canton of Thurgau is part of a uniform federal legal framework: Swiss rental law, governed by articles 253 et seq. of the Code of Obligations, applies identically in all cantons. This means that the minimum protections for the tenant — from the security deposit to the cancellation procedure up to the dispute terms — do not vary from Zurich to Bern or eastern Switzerland.

The security deposit structure

One of the most practical points concerns the security deposit. In Thurgau, as in the rest of Switzerland, the landlord can request a maximum of three months' gross rent.

Operational details

When to contest the initial rent

One of the most important tools available to the tenant in Thurgau is the contestation of the initial rent. When the landlord announces a new rent — for example in the event of a change of tenant, adjustments following renovation work, or recalculations based on mortgage rates — the tenant may challenge it within 30 days before the rental conciliation authority of their district.

Contestation is not an unrestricted appeal: it must be based on grounds recognised under federal law, such as a rent deemed abusive compared to comparable rents in the area, or an adjustment not justified by an increase in costs or by objective improvements. The burden of substantiating the request often discourages weak challenges, but where the prerequisites are met, the procedure before the conciliation authority is free in its initial stages and may result in mediation or in a binding decision.

Average rents: how to read market data

The Canton of Thurgau has historically been characterised by lower average rents compared with economic hubs such as Zurich or Zug, but with steady growth driven by its proximity to St. Gallen and the Zurich conurbation. The data published by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO/BFS) on rental prices provide an overview by Canton and by region, broken down by housing category (number of rooms, year of construction). For a proper comparison, it is advisable to consult historical series rather than single data points: rents are surveyed on samples, and fluctuations of a few francs do not necessarily indicate a trend.

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Key points

Operational procedure: how to proceed in practice

When signing a rental contract in Thurgau, it is helpful to follow an essential checklist. Before signing, verify that the security deposit amount does not exceed three months of gross rent. Request written confirmation that the deposit will be placed in a blocked account held in the tenant's name or jointly held. Keep a copy of the contract, the housing condition report (Wohnungszustandsprotokoll) signed upon move-in, and all correspondence with the landlord.

If the landlord notifies a rent increase or a change in the initial rent, the tenant has 30 days to file an objection with the rental conciliation authority of their district. The procedure is accessible without legal assistance, but in the case of substantial amounts or complexity, it is advisable to contact a free legal advice centre available in the main centres of the Canton or the tenant associations active at regional level.

Useful tools and contacts

To understand the level of rents in your area, the reference source is the website of the Federal Statistical Office (UST/BFS), which regularly publishes data on the Swiss rental market. For the dispute procedure, the conciliation authority can be reached through the Canton of Thurgau's channels, and the official termination forms are available at municipal clerk's offices and online.

If you are considering a change of accommodation and want to simulate the impact of the new rent on your monthly budget, you can use the salary calculator to estimate the net pay based on income and Canton. The real estate market must in fact be read together with actual purchasing power: a sustainable rent is one that does not erode the savings capacity needed for AVS, occupational pension (LPP) and the third pillar.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much can the landlord ask for as a security deposit in Thurgau?: The maximum provided for by federal law (art. 253 et seq. CO) is three months' gross rent. The deposit must be paid into a restricted bank account in the name of the tenant or co-owner, and not into a free account of the landlord. Contractual clauses that provide for higher amounts are null and void.
Within how many days can the initial fee be disputed?: The tenant has 30 days from the notification of the new rent to file opposition with the conciliation authority regarding the lease of his district in Thurgau. The dispute must be substantiated, for example with reference to comparable rents in the area or unjustified increases in the lessor's costs.
How should the cancellation be communicated by the landlord?: The cancellation of the landlord is valid only if communicated through the official form of the Canton where the tenant is domiciled. Cancellations sent by informal means — simple emails, messages — can be considered invalid. The tenant retains the right to object within the terms provided by the CO.
Where to find data on average fees in Thurgau?: Rentals are collected and published by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO/BFS), with breakdown by Canton and region. The data are updated periodically and should be read as statistical averages: fluctuations of a few francs between one survey and another do not necessarily indicate a market trend.
Should you contact a lawyer to challenge a fee?: The procedure before the conciliation authority is free in the initial stages and accessible even without legal assistance. For large sums or complex cases it is advisable to support a legal office or a tenant association active in Thurgau, before considering the assistance of a lawyer.