Your Questions Answered
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you want to know about our mailboxes. Compliance, prices, lead times, installation, apartment buildings, warranty: here are clear answers to the questions we are asked most often.
About Helvabox
Helvabox specializes in custom mailboxes, manufactured and installed in French-speaking Switzerland. We guarantee compliance with postal standards and bring over 20 years of experience in the mailbox industry.
Our strength lies in handling both manufacturing in our Swiss workshop and installation with our own teams. This means you have a single point of contact, and we ensure your mailbox is installed correctly, in the right location, with the slot facing the street, and at an accessible height.
Compliance and Regulations
A compliant mailbox must have two compartments: a letter compartment (min. 10 × 25 × 35.5 cm with a slot of 25 × 2.5 cm) and a deposit compartment (min. 15 × 25 × 35.5 cm). The flap opens inwards, the name is on the front, and the location respects property boundaries. Our online test can give you an initial answer in 2 minutes. (Source: La Poste brochure 221.04 / OPO Annex 1.)
If your mailbox is not compliant, La Poste is not obliged to deliver mail. After a warning, they can suspend home delivery (OPO art. 31 al. 2 let. c); mail must then be collected from the post office. Bringing it into compliance restores delivery.
For apartment buildings, each dwelling needs a labeled mailbox, each with a letter compartment AND a deposit compartment. The mailbox unit must be freely accessible from the street, never behind a locked door. Installation is the responsibility of the owner, at their expense (OPO art. 73).
Pricing and Lead Times
Individual custom mailboxes start from CHF 290.– for a compliant box. With an integrated parcel compartment, prices start from CHF 490.–. For an apartment building unit, prices start from CHF 180.– per dwelling. The final amount depends on the material, finish, fixing system, and installation. We provide a precise and free quote within 48 hours.
Generally, allow 2 to 4 weeks between quote validation and installation, depending on complexity and finish. For urgent compliance (e.g., a warning from La Poste), we prioritize your case.
Materials and Options
We offer brushed stainless steel (ideal for lakeside and exposed areas), anthracite RAL 7016 powder-coated steel or aluminum, and all RAL colors of your choice. Durable and weather-resistant materials are a requirement of the postal standard.
Yes, you can add a parcel box. A parcel box combines with your mailbox to receive packages when you are away. It does not replace the mandatory deposit compartment; it complements it. In apartment buildings, a shared parcel locker significantly reduces missed delivery notices.
Our Services
- — Custom Mailboxes
- — Apartment Building Mailbox Units
- — Services for Property Management Companies
- — Compliance Upgrades
- — Postal Standard Information
- — Compliance Test
- — Dimensions and Regulations
- — Collective Buildings
FAQ
How do I know if my mailbox is compliant?
A compliant mailbox must have two compartments: a letter compartment (min. 10 × 25 × 35.5 cm with a slot of 25 × 2.5 cm) and a deposit compartment (min. 15 × 25 × 35.5 cm). The flap opens inwards, the name is on the front, and the location respects property boundaries. Our online test gives you an initial answer in 2 minutes.
Who pays for installation in a rental building?
The property owner is responsible for the cost, not the tenant or La Poste (OPO art. 73). For property management companies, we offer a free compliance audit of their portfolio and coordinated replacement of non-compliant units.
In which regions do you operate?
Throughout French-speaking Switzerland, with a strong presence in the canton of Vaud (Lausanne, Morges, Nyon, Vevey-Montreux, Yverdon, West Lausanne). Geneva, Fribourg, Valais, and Neuchâtel are available upon request.
Do you offer a compliance guarantee?
Yes. When we manufacture and install a mailbox or unit, we provide a written guarantee that it complies with current postal standards. If La Poste disputes an installation carried out according to its specifications, we will manage the case.
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