Filling holes in walls when moving out: 5 questions before the handover

Shelves, pictures, curtain rails, a TV bracket – after a few years in a flat, the walls tell a story. Before the handover inspection, many tenants wonder whether they should fill holes in walls when moving out, and if so, how. In Switzerland there is no single answer that fits every lease. What matters is what your lease and property management expect – and doing the job in a way that does not look worse than the hole itself. Here are the five questions we are asked most often.

Why holes matter when moving out in Switzerland

At the end of the lease, you return the flat in the condition that results from contractual use. Hanging pictures and shelves is part of normal living, and the tenants' association addresses the question of dowel holes in its leaflet on move-out cleaning.

Where things become tricky is with many large holes, holes in tiles or damaged plaster from heavy brackets. And ironically, a botched repair – lumpy filler, a yellowish patch, a smeared wall – can draw more attention than a few neat holes.

1. Should I fill holes or leave them?

Start by reading your lease and any handover instructions. Then ask the property management directly, ideally by email so you have it in writing. You will typically hear one of three answers:

If the walls will be repainted after you leave anyway, the property management may prefer to handle all holes in one go.

2. How to fill holes in walls when moving out

For small holes in plaster or plasterboard walls:

1. Remove the dowel carefully with pliers or by screwing in a screw a few turns and pulling. If it will not come out, push it slightly deeper so it sits below the surface.
2. Brush out loose dust.
3. Press a small amount of ready-mixed fine filler into the hole with a flexible filling knife.
4. Scrape off the excess flush with the wall – the less filler around the hole, the less visible it will be.
5. Let it dry as stated on the package; deeper holes may need a second layer.
6. Sand very lightly with fine sandpaper and wipe away the dust with a damp cloth.

Choose a filler that is white and suitable for interior walls. On textured plaster, a smooth filled spot can stand out; dab it lightly with a sponge before it dries to match the structure.

3. Should I paint over filled holes?

This is where many repairs go wrong. Touching up a small area with paint almost always leaves a visible patch, because wall colour ages and even "white" comes in many shades. Unless you have the original paint and experience, it is often better to leave neatly filled spots unpainted – but follow the property management's wishes.

Painting whole walls yourself should only be done after consulting the property management. Walls painted in the wrong shade or unevenly can lead to more cost than the holes would have.

4. What about holes in tiles?

Holes in bathroom or kitchen tiles cannot be filled invisibly. Filler or silicone in a tile hole is obvious and can trap moisture.

• Do not try to hide them.
• Tell the property management openly at or before the handover.
• If the holes were agreed when you moved in, or existed already, point to the entry protocol.

For the future: in a rental, use existing holes, grout lines or adhesive solutions in tiled areas wherever possible.

5. Will I have to pay for holes?

This depends on the lease, the number and size of the holes, and the condition and age of the walls. Normal wear from ordinary furnishing is typically not charged, while excessive damage can be. Even then, what counts is usually the remaining value of the paintwork, which the tenants' and homeowners' associations' life-expectancy table helps to estimate. Our guide to the handover protocol explains how defects are recorded.

From filling to final cleaning

When moving out, filling and sanding should be finished before the main cleaning, not after. Sanding dust settles on skirting boards, window sills, floors and radiators. The right order is:

Adhesive strips and hooks often leave marks or tear paint when removed. Warm them gently with a hairdryer before peeling slowly. If walls are yellowed from smoking, holes are only part of the story – read how to remove nicotine from walls.

Common mistakes when moving out

• Filling without asking: Your work may be redone at your cost if the property management had other plans.
• Too much filler around the hole: Creates visible bumps and patches.
• Spot-painting with the wrong white: Patches are more visible than holes.
• Sanding after cleaning: Fine dust ends up everywhere you have just cleaned.
• Hiding holes in tiles: It rarely works and damages trust at the handover.

Priority Clean editorial teamOur cleaning team from Alberswil, Canton of Lucerne, shares hands-on experience from move-out, house, office and window cleaning across Central and Northwestern Switzerland.