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Firstcaution, a FINMA-authorised insurance company and specialist in rental guarantees, is reimbursing 20% of premiums paid to tenants who complete their lease without damage or unpaid rent.
With this Cashback, the company is taking the logic of insurance to its logical conclusion: when the covered risk does not materialise, part of the premiums paid is returned.
As of 1 June 2026, Switzerland had only 0.93% vacant housing, according to the Federal Statistical Office. The rate falls to 0.87% in the canton of Vaud and 0.31% in Geneva. At the same time, rents continue to rise.
For a tenant, moving home marks a life milestone. It is also a moment when costs pile up: first month’s rent, moving expenses… and a deposit that can amount to three months’ rent. Hence the importance of solutions adapted to each stage of life and every budget. It is in this spirit that Firstcaution designed its tailored rental guarantee: to respond to market pressure and the diversity of individual circumstances with a price adapted to each customer, true to its mission of making access to housing simpler and fairer for all.
“In Switzerland, less than one home in a hundred is available. We do not claim to solve that problem. What we can do, however, is support tenants and real estate professionals as efficiently and seamlessly as possible in managing rental guarantees. That is why we design solutions aligned with their needs. Cashback is proof of that: our business as an insurer is to cover a risk, and when it does not materialise, it is only fair that part of the premiums should go back to the person who paid them.”
CÉLINE FREY · CEO of Firstcaution
The principle is straightforward. For any contract taken out from 22 September 2026 onwards, the tenant receives back at the end of the lease 20% of all premiums paid, provided the rental guarantee has lasted at least one year, no damage or unpaid rent is recorded upon departure, and premiums are up to date.
In motor insurance, claim-free driving has long translated into a lower premium in subsequent years. In rental guarantees, reaching the end of a lease without a claim had until now no impact on the price paid. Firstcaution goes further than simply adjusting a future premium: it reimburses part of premiums already paid, creating a virtuous knock-on effect for all players in the housing market.
Tenants: they recover part of their premiums and have one more reason to return their home in good condition.
Property managers and landlords: homes handed back in better condition, smoother lease terminations and faster re-letting.
Firstcaution: a healthier portfolio, to the benefit of all its clients.
Rental guarantee offers have multiplied in recent years, driven by players with different profiles, from brokers to insurers. The true cost of a guarantee must be assessed on several levels and over the full term of the lease, taking into account what the product includes and the reliability of the risk carrier. At Firstcaution, Cashback is added to the other features of its tailored rental guarantee, while never departing from its core principle: reliable long-term cover for landlords.
“Every day, we speak with tenants and we meet property managers and landlords. This closeness allows us to design solutions that are in step with the market: supporting tenants through every stage of life, and simplifying the daily work of real estate professionals by removing friction. With Cashback, we are taking another step forward in tailored rental guarantees.”
CÉLINE FREY · CEO of Firstcaution
Firstcaution is a Swiss insurance company specialising in rental guarantees, authorised by FINMA. It supports more than 130,000 clients and real estate professionals across Switzerland, with nearly 80 employees in Nyon, Zurich
and Bellinzona.
Sources: Federal Statistical Office, vacant housing count, 10 September 2026; Statistique Vaud, July 2026; Homegate Rent Index, June 2026.Firstcaution, a FINMA-authorised insurer specialising in rental guarantees, is now refunding 20% of the premiums paid by tenants who reach the end of their lease without damage or unpaid rent.
With this Cashback scheme, the company is taking the principle of insurance to its natural conclusion: when the insured risk does not materialise, part of the premiums is returned.
A tough market for tenants
As of 1 June 2026, just 0.93% of homes in Switzerland were vacant, according to the Federal Statistical Office. The rate drops to 0.87% in the canton of Vaud and to 0.31% in Geneva. Meanwhile, rents keep rising.
For a tenant, moving home is a milestone in life. It is also a time when costs mount up: the first month’s rent, removal costs… and a deposit that can reach three months’ rent. That is why solutions suited to every stage of life and every budget matter. Firstcaution designed its tailored rental guarantee in this spirit: to respond to market pressure and to the variety of individual situations with a price matched to each customer, in keeping with its mission of making access to housing simpler and fairer for everyone.
“In Switzerland, fewer than one home in a hundred is available. We don’t claim to solve that problem. What we can do is support tenants and property professionals in managing rental guarantees as efficiently and smoothly as possible. That is why we design solutions built around their needs. Cashback is proof of that. Our job as an insurer is to cover a risk, and when that risk doesn’t materialise, it is only fair that part of the premiums goes back to the person who paid them.”
Céline Frey, CEO of Firstcaution
20% of premiums refunded at the end of the lease
The principle is simple. For any policy taken out on or after 22 September 2026, the tenant receives 20% of all premiums paid at the end of the lease, provided that the guarantee has run for at least one year, that no damage or unpaid rent is recorded on departure, and that all premiums have been paid.
Rewarding claim-free tenancies
In car insurance, claim-free driving has long been rewarded with lower premiums in the following years. In rental guarantees, however, reaching the end of a lease without a claim has so far made no difference to the price paid. Firstcaution goes further than simply adjusting future premiums: it refunds part of the premiums already paid, creating a virtuous circle for everyone in the housing market.
Our commitment: fair pricing
Rental guarantee offers have multiplied in recent years, driven by players with very different profiles, from brokers to insurers. The true cost of a guarantee needs to be assessed from several angles and over the full length of the lease, taking into account what the product includes and the reliability of the company carrying the risk. At Firstcaution, Cashback comes on top of the other features of its tailored rental guarantee, without ever compromising on its core principle: reliable, long-term cover for landlords.
“Every day, we talk to tenants and meet property managers and landlords. Being this close to them allows us to design solutions in step with the market: supporting tenants at every stage of life, and making life easier for property professionals by removing friction from their day-to-day work. With Cashback, we are taking tailored rental guarantees one step further.”
Céline Frey, CEO of Firstcaution
About Firstcaution
Firstcaution is a Swiss insurance company specialising in rental guarantees and authorised by FINMA. It serves more than 130,000 customers and property professionals across Switzerland, with nearly 80 employees in Nyon, Zurich and Bellinzona.
Sources: Federal Statistical Office, vacant housing count, 10 September 2026; Statistique Vaud, July 2026; Homegate Rent Index, June 2026.
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