Most people in Switzerland pay their rent every month via a bank transfer; most likely, they set up an automatic ‘standing order’ online (Dauerauftrag in German, mandat permanent in French and ordine permanente in Italian), which is the most convenient way to pay recurrent bills. However, the landlord can’t demand that you pay rent in cash; that would be a very odd request and should set off alarm bells in your head. If your rented accommodation needs a major overhaul, ranging from maintainence works to essential repairs, the landlord can’t ask you to pay for them.