The Swiss Real Estate Association, which represents landlords, warns that turning down the heating in rented accommodation could result in a legal backlash.
The 19 degree heating target was a specific measure contained in a voluntary energy saving campaign launched by the government in August.
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Fact check: will the Swiss be jailed for heating their homes above 19°C?
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A rumour is circulating abroad that people in Switzerland will be fined – and even jailed – if they set their thermostat above 19°C.
But legal experts point to a 2017 Supreme Court ruling that said tenants are entitled to minimum heating of 20-21 degrees Celsius. This ruling has opened the door for tenants to sue for compensation should temperatures drop below that mark.
A government spokesperson told the SonntagsZeitung newspaper that the ruling allowed for reasonable deviations from this target.
But it remains unclear who would be legally accountable for turning down the heating – the landlord or the government who called for this action.
The Swiss Tenants’ Association has written to government to say a 19 degree target is unreasonable for elderly or vulnerable people.
“The current discussions prove that this measure simply cannot be implemented,” tenant’s association general secretary Linda Rosenkrantz told the SonntagsZeitung.
The newspaper also warns of possible heating oil shortages this winter caused by a lack of trucks and drivers to transport it.
Some 57% of Swiss households are rented by their occupants, which is one of the highest rental rates in Europe.
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Switzerland braces for winter energy crunch
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Explainer: why is there a risk of an energy shortage this winter? What is Switzerland doing to reduce gas and electricity consumption?
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Swiss electricity savings drive slow out of the blocks
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Electricity consumption in Switzerland remains at normal levels despite a government appeal for households to make savings.
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Explainer: why is there a risk of an energy shortage this winter? What is Switzerland doing to reduce gas and electricity consumption?
Fact check: will the Swiss be jailed for heating their homes above 19°C?
This content was published on
A rumour is circulating abroad that people in Switzerland will be fined – and even jailed – if they set their thermostat above 19°C.
Swiss willing to give up tumble-dryer but not hot showers
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If reductions in household energy-usage were to be enforced rather than recommended (as they are currently), the easiest thing to forgo would be the tumble-dryer: 63% of those polled said they could hang their laundry outside instead, the survey foundExternal link. The poll was run last week by the Leewas analysis group and involved some 16,000 participants.…
Energy saving on track but things could deteriorate, says expert
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Gas consumption in Switzerland has fallen by 20% percent in the past two months, but winter could be tough, says supply expert Bastian Schwark.
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.