Notary fees in Switzerland according to the cantons of Vaud, Fribourg, Geneva, Neuchâtel and Valais

Definition of notary fees in Switzerland

The term “notaire’s fees” in real estate is often misunderstood, as it is not limited to the notaire’s remuneration. These costs include registration duties (droits de mutation), land registry fees and the notary’s fees, which generally represent less than 1% of the value of the property.

Fees are set by law and vary according to the value of the transaction, with a sliding scale depending on the price of the property. Fees, on the other hand, are additional payments that vary from case to case.

For a deed of purchase, the total costs amount to around 4% of the price of the property. This includes transfer duties (also known as registration fees), the entry in the land register, and the notary’s fees.

For a mortgage deed, the fees are generally 2.5% of the amount of the mortgage. They include the same components.

Good to know: the notary is personally responsible for paying the registration and land registry fees. A reduction, known as a “Casatax”, may be applied to registration fees when a property purchase does not exceed a certain price, which varies depending on the canton. This price limit is re-evaluated each year.

Notary fees: what makes them up?

Notary fees in Switzerland include the following:

Transfer duties

These fees, also known as registration fees or purchase tax depending on the canton, are levied when a property is purchased. They make up the majority of notary fees and vary from canton to canton.

Land register fees

The Land Registry, which documents information about properties, charges a fee for registering a new owner, thereby making the property official.

Fees for the authentic instrument

In the French-speaking cantons, this deed is signed before a notary. The emoluments, including the fees, represent the notary’s remuneration for his work, set by the cantonal law on notaries.

Costs of establishing a mortgage on real estate

When you buy with a loan, the property serves as collateral for the bank. There are costs involved in creating the cédule hypothécaire, the document representing this security.

Disbursements

These are ancillary costs such as postage, supplies, extracts from the Land Register, etc., which vary according to the complexity of the case.

Fees

They are invoiced by the notary and depend on the nature and complexity of the case.

Good to know: these fees vary slightly from one notaire to another and are detailed in the invoices sent by the notaire for each transaction.

How much do notary fees cost for property purchases in the cantons of Vaud, Fribourg, Neuchâtel and Valais?

To formalise the purchase or sale of a property in the cantons of Vaud, Fribourg, Neuchâtel and Valais, it is essential to use the services of an accredited notary. This essential step involves the signing of a notarised deed between the buyer and seller, which entails notary fees.

These fees, which vary depending on the canton in which the property (house or flat) is located, are payable by the parties involved and are settled via the notary. It is therefore important to know the specific amount of notary fees in each of these cantons for a property transaction.

Notary fees in different Swiss cantons

How much do notary fees cost for a property transaction in the canton of Vaud?

In the process of buying or selling a property in the canton of Vaud, the notary plays a crucial role in authenticating the transaction by signing a deed of sale. This involves the payment of various fees, taxes and charges by the parties involved.

Total notary fees in the canton of Vaud represent around 3.8% of the price of the property transaction. Here are the details of these fees, which are payable by the buyer and managed by the notary:

Registration fees (transfer duties) in the canton of Vaud

For registration of the transaction with the Land Registry, transfer duties amount to 3.3% of the transaction price.

Land register fees

Registration fees, or emoluments, at the Land Registry are set at 0.3% of the price of the property.

Notary fees in the canton of Vaud

The notary’s fees represent 0.2% of the value of the property transaction.

In the canton of Vaud, who is responsible for paying notary fees?

These costs are usually borne by the buyer.

How much do notary fees cost for a property transaction in the canton of Valais?

Notary fees in the canton of Valais represent around 3% of the purchase price of a property. This percentage includes registration fees (droits de mutation), Land Registry fees and the notary’s fees. Here are the details of these fees payable by the buyer and managed by the notary:

Registration fees (transfer duties) in the canton of Valais

To register the transaction with the Land Registry, transfer duties amount to approximately 1.5% of the purchase price of the property.

Land register fees

Registration fees, or emoluments, at the Land Registry are approximately 0.2% of the purchase price of the property.

Notary fees in the canton of Valais

The notary’s fees represent approximately 0.6% of the value of the property transaction.

Breakdown of notary fees in the canton of Valais

These costs are generally borne by the buyer.

What are the notary fees for a property transaction in the canton of Fribourg?

When buying a property in the canton of Fribourg, the buyer must pay notary fees, the amount of which varies from canton to canton. Here are the details of notary fees in the canton of Fribourg, to be paid via the notary:

Registration fees (transfer duties) in the canton of Fribourg

For registration with the Land Registry, transfer duties amount to 3% of the purchase price of the property.

Land register fees

Registration fees, or emoluments, at the Land Registry are set at 0.3% of the purchase price of the property.

Notary fees in the canton of Fribourg

The notary’s fees in Fribourg are calculated differently from those in the canton of Vaud. Here are the details of the notary’s fees for his services in Fribourg :

Up to CHF 5,000: CHF 150

On the portion between CHF 5,000 and CHF 20,000: 70%.

On the portion between CHF 20,000 and CHF 100,000: 5%.

On the portion between CHF 100,000 and CHF 1,000,000: 3%.

On the portion between CHF 1,000,000 and CHF 2,000,000: 2%.

On the portion between CHF 2,000,000 and CHF 5,000,000: 1%.

On the portion exceeding CHF 5,000,000: 0.5%.

The maximum is 10,000 francs.

What is the breakdown of notary fees in the canton of Fribourg?

These costs are usually borne by the buyer.

How much are notary fees for a property transaction in the canton of Neuchâtel?

Notary fees in the canton of Neuchâtel, which are considered to be among the highest in French-speaking Switzerland, include registration fees (droits de mutation), land registry fees and the notary’s professional fees. Here are the details of these fees, payable by the buyer and managed by the notary:

Registration fees (transfer duties) in the canton of Neuchâtel

Transfer duties of 3.3% of the purchase price of the property are payable on registration of the transaction with the Land Registry.

Land register fees

Registration fees, or emoluments, at the Land Registry are set at 0.3% of the purchase price of the property.

Notary fees in the canton of Neuchâtel

The notary’s fees represent 0.5% of the value of the property transaction.

Breakdown of notary fees in the canton of Neuchâtel

These costs are generally borne by the buyer.

Notary fees in the canton of Geneva

Registration fees (transfer duties) in the canton of Geneva

Transfer duties amount to 3% in the canton of Geneva, paid by the notary to the State.

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