What are operating costs?

Although ancillary costs are a natural part of our society, many tenants do not know how ancillary costs, operating costs, heating costs, and cold rent are calculated.

There are clear differences between operating costs and ancillary costs. Operating costs are costs for which you alone are responsible and which you can influence. That is why you receive an operating cost statement at the end of the year. If you have used more than you paid in advance, you will have to pay additional operating costs. Additional costs, on the other hand, are costs that arise automatically, such as taxes, repair costs due to the age of the building, or the caretaker. These costs may only be charged to the tenant on a pro rata basis, if at all.

Additional costs are only extra costs that the owner incurs on a regular basis. Accordingly, annual maintenance work is included in the additional costs. On the other hand, repairs are additional costs that the owner cannot pass on. The Operating Costs Ordinance specifies in detail which costs the landlord can reimburse from the tenant. 17 different cost items are listed in the Operating Costs Ordinance.

To help you prepare and get a rough idea, here are some examples of operating costs. These include property tax, heating costs, hot water costs, lighting costs, and the cost of passenger or freight elevators. You bear these costs because you use them yourself and decide when and how much they are used. Let's assume you use the heating in winter. In this case, you decide how long the heating is on and at what temperature.

Other operating costs are not immediately clear to many people. Only regular costs that arise can be included in the ancillary costs. These must be specified in the rental agreement in order to be legally binding.

Other operating costs would usually include:

 

• Cleaning of gutters
• Doorman
• Security
• Lightning conductor maintenance
• Fire extinguisher maintenance