What’s with the myth?
Germans think that there is a ban on dishwashing at night in Switzerland
In Germany it is believed that in Switzerland the toilet cannot be flushed at night. The reason: noise pollution. Is there something to it? A rental expert explains.
Published: 16 minutes ago
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Is washing dishes at night forbidden in Switzerland?
Jenny WagnerEditor News
A good night’s rest is very important in Switzerland. Between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., tenants are obliged to show consideration for the neighbors.
However, a strange rumor has spread among our neighbors in the north: For example, “Bild” writes about the absurd “Swiss law”: “If you want to go to the toilet in your apartment in Switzerland at night, the following applies: Flushing is forbidden!” Otherwise you disturb the night’s sleep. Is that right?
“The night’s rest results from the respective police ordinance,” explains rental expert Fabian Gloor from the Swiss Tenants’ Association. This varies depending on the canton. In many places, the following applies to tenants from 10 p.m.: Only room volume is allowed. So it is actually forbidden to be loud at night and disturb your neighbors. But that is also the case in Germany.
“In the rental agreement or house rules, further restrictions or prohibitions may be regulated,” says Gloor. So can you also prohibit flushing the toilet in the rental agreement?
The myth of flushing the toilet
The rental expert waves it away. “A general ban on flushing the toilet during the night’s rest would interfere too much with the personal rights of the tenants,” explains Gloor. So if the neighbor calls the police because he was awakened by the flush of the toilet, he is wrong. According to Gloor, showers should also be allowed at night.
But when does the noise pollution start? Some house rules prohibit doing your laundry at night. Gloor: “A washing ban could be legally justified.” But there are also exceptions. Depending on how noisy the neighborhood is or whether the rented rooms are intended for large families, noise can also be dealt with more tolerantly.
Therefore, dear Germans: That we are not allowed to do the dishes at night is a myth.