Resources
Construction Glossary
The essential terms to understand your property project in Switzerland.
- Builders' statutory lien
- The right of an unpaid subcontractor to register a lien on the property, even if the owner has already paid the general contractor. A major risk for buyers.
- Building permit
- Permit issued by the cantonal authority (in Geneva, the Department of Territory) before any construction or major renovation work.
- CECB
- Cantonal energy certificate for buildings: rates the energy performance of a building's envelope and overall consumption.
- CFC (Swiss construction cost code)
- Standard Swiss classification of construction costs, used to structure quotes, budgets and final accounts.
- Change order
- An amendment to the original contract that increases the cost. Every change order should be priced and approved in writing before the work is done.
- Condominium ownership (PPE)
- Swiss form of co-ownership: each owner holds a share of the building with exclusive rights to their unit and shared common areas.
- Construction management
- Coordinating and supervising the site: scheduling contractors, controlling quality, checking invoices and tracking the budget through to handover.
- Design-and-build contractor
- A company responsible for both design and construction. The owner has a single point of contact, but less independent oversight.
- Final account
- The definitive financial statement of the project, comparing the initial budget with actual costs, including change orders.
- Finishing work
- Fit-out and finishing works: electrical, plumbing, heating, joinery, floor and wall coverings, painting.
- General contractor
- A company that carries out all construction work for an agreed price and deadline, based on plans provided by the owner.
- Handover (acceptance)
- The stage at which the owner takes possession of the work after inspection. It starts the warranty periods.
- Handover report
- Document signed at handover listing observed defects and correction deadlines. Defects not recorded are harder to claim later.
- Limitation period
- The period during which defect claims can be enforced. For a building, it is generally 5 years from handover.
- Notice of defects
- Written notification sent to the contractor to report a defect. Since the Swiss Code of Obligations revision in force in 2026, the deadline is 60 days from discovery.
- Off-plan purchase
- Buying a property before or during construction, based on plans and specifications. Risks include finishes, delays and compliance.
- Owner's Representative (AMO)
- An independent expert who exclusively represents the project owner: reviewing contracts, controlling quality, budget and schedule, and defending the owner's interests against all other parties.
- Project designer (Maître d'œuvre)
- The professional (often the architect or engineer) responsible for designing the project and overseeing its technical execution.
- Project owner (Maître d'ouvrage)
- The individual or entity for whom the work is carried out and who finances it: the owner or buyer.
- Retention
- A portion of the price held back by the owner until defects are corrected, or replaced by a bank guarantee.
- SIA 118 standard
- General conditions for construction work published by the Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects. Often incorporated into contracts, it governs handover and defects.
- Structural work
- The building's structural works: foundations, load-bearing walls, slabs, framing and roof.
- Technical specification
- Contractual document detailing the planned materials, equipment and finishes. It is the reference for disputing any discrepancy at handover.
- Tender
- Process of inviting contractors to bid on a set of specifications, allowing offers to be compared.
- Visible defect / Hidden defect
- A visible defect can be seen at handover; a hidden defect only appears later. Both must be reported to the contractor promptly once discovered.