Ordering your Swiss debt-register extract (Betreibungsauszug)

What the extract shows

The extract from the debt-collection register confirms whether debt-enforcement proceedings were opened against you in recent years. For landlords it is the customary signal that rent will likely be paid reliably — which is why it belongs in every dossier, one per signing person.

Where and how to order

The office of your place of residence is the competent one. The fee is around 17 francs; delivery may add to it.

• Online: via the federal portal (linked from ch.ch) — the extract arrives by post or electronically.
• At the counter: at the debt-collection office (Betreibungsamt) of your municipality, usually issued on the spot against an ID.
• By post: a written request to the Betreibungsamt with a copy of your ID.
• Order a paper copy as well: some agencies want the original — at the viewing, or at the latest when the lease is signed. A PDF does not replace it.

How long does it stay current?

There is no legal expiry date — but the convention is firm: most agencies expect an extract no older than about three months, and some require two. An older one only proves the past as of back then.

Wohnera's checklist asks for your extract's issue date, computes the validity window and warns before it goes stale — ordering it remains your part.

The special case: you moved recently

The extract covers only your current enforcement district. If you moved recently, your history at the new address is short — and says little. Many agencies then appreciate the extract from your previous municipality as well. Two short extracts answer more than one empty one.