Looking for an apartment in switzerland

Finding an apartment or a house in Switzerland – a challenge

Before you start looking for an apartment, there are a few things you should know beforehand. So you know what you can expect, get an idea how it works and and don’t invest in work that doesn’t pay off in the end.

Of course there are many apartments in Switzerland. And when you take a first look at the real estate sites, you get the feeling that there are more than enough apartments available. But if you go into depth and compare the offer with your own wishes and needs, the selection shrinks quite quickly. If you focus on a certain place or district, maybe there are still two or three apartments which still meet your expectations. And if you read the advertisement carefully, you will again exclude an apartment because it will be available at a later date than requested, has no balcony or does not allow pets.

Sounds daunting? It shouldn’t be. It should only show that the planned search takes time, wants to be thought through and that it is good if you bring a good portion of flexibility with you. This does not mean that you should reduce your desires to nothing. But if you know what to expect, then you can approach it better.

Apartments in Switzerland – differences to other countries

Practically all of the apartments you will visit are in very good condition. Even if you come across a really old kitchen, for example, you can assume that everything in it will work perfectly. The heaters and pipes of apartments and houses are usually maintained and serviced regularly. So do not worry.

Each apartment and house has a kitchen in which at least the oven and the fridge / freezer are integrated. The kitchen and bathroom have light. In the other rooms you almost always have to buy and install your own lamps. There are often built-in cupboards in the entrance area of ​​the apartments. At least for the coats and jackets and also a so-called cleaning cabinet, in which you can stow objects such as brooms and vacuum cleaners. Fitted wardrobes are rarely available in the bedrooms and you should therefore include space for your own closets.

A dishwasher is almost always available (except for very small or very old and therefore also very cheap apartments). Washer and dryer are mostly available in newer apartments. Many of them are in the basement and are shared with the other tenants. Fortunately, it is now the case that there is no specific wash schedule. You add yourself to a list if you want to be sure that the machine is free on the washing day of your choice. If you do not want to use the dryer, you will always find a drying room in which you can hang up the laundry. For safety reasons, you should still ask during visits whether there is a specific washing day per household or everyone can wash when the laundry room is free. The answer can certainly influence the choice of apartment.

Only in exceptional cases does an apartment not have a basement. Otherwise this is standard. Everyone gets their own cellar compartment. Sometimes larger, sometimes smaller, sometimes with a socket for, for example, connecting a larger freezer, older apartments mostly without a socket. Sometimes it is a completely closed room, sometimes a compartment with wooden partitions. For the latter you need a door lock with which you can lock the cellar. The tenant must bring this himself.

House and apartment visits – make an appointment

If you would like to have a viewing appointment, you have to either request it by email – directly on the advertisement – or you can call the contact number mentioned (sometimes there is no number !! Visit only on email request). Often the viewing date and the time at which it will take place are also shown directly in the advertisement. This mentioned date usually remains the only way to view the property. Basically, it is assumed here that enough people will come to this appointment and that enough applications will be received for the apartment. So there is no reason to offer another appointment. So try to be there on the mentioned appointment.

The visit – take your time!

When visiting, you should take the time to really look at all the rooms. No hesitation to open a window to hear how loud it could be in the apartment !! Even if the doors of rooms are closed, ask if you can go in (which you can of course). Depending on the apartment, it is quite possible that many other people will look at it at the same time. Just don’t let you be pushed. If there are still tenants in the apartment, please always ask if you can take photos / videos! Also ask about the basement and the laundry room and express your wish to see them. Ask about the washing schedule if the washing machine is not in the apartment.

Don’t forget to take the application form with you at the end of the tour! The employee of the agency has one or the tenant will  hand it over to you.

What should you watch out for when applying for a house or apartment?

It is of course important to fill out the application form as completely as possible. It should be noted, for example, that references should be given here. The current landlord and employer should be mentioned on it. It is very likely that they will actually be contacted. So inform them in advance that an agency could call in the next few days. If you have been in Switzerland for some time, you should automatically include a debt enforcement information with it (Betreibungsauskunft). If you come from abroad and have only been living in Switzerland for a few weeks, then this is not necessary. The debt enforcement report would not give  a relevant statement. Practically all agencies  know this and therefore  do not require any. In that case  it is even  more important to enclose a work confirmation (employment contract is not absolutely necessary).  A confirmation stating when you started or will start the job, the planned length of employment (unlimited) and and your salary are usually sufficient. As a foreigner, you should also include a copy of your passport. These are the main points to consider.

Reasons why your application was not accepted

Often you will never find out why the application sent was not accepted. There are many possibilities. Here are a few examples:

• The apartment is very cheap and you earn more than three times the rent. Numerous applications have been received for this apartment. The property is then rather allocated to someone who dependents on this cheap apartment, since he cannot afford one that is more expensive.
• It may be that 10, 20 or even 30 applications are received for an apartment. It is difficult for every agency and owner to make the right choice. It is difficult to find out which detail was ultimately decisive. Finding an apartment also has a bit to do with luck !!
• There are owners and landlords who have their preferred tenants for an apartment. If you do not fit into this profile, then this has nothing to do with your own person and you should therefore not be too sad if it did not work out. Maybe the landlords wanted a “good mix” in the residential building (of all ages, for example), others prefer someone without pets or maybe the apartment is more suitable for an individual than for a family.

Don’t be discouraged here either. The right apartment, in which you will be happy and for which you will be accepted, will definitely come!

Accepted! The lease agreement  is coming!

Rental contracts are fairly standard in Switzerland and are all similar. Nevertheless, it is always good to read it carefully to notice any deviations so that you can ask questions to the agency if necessary. The following documents are usually also provided for the contract:

• Form for the notification of the initial rent: The landlord must state the current rent here and the rent paid by the previous. Most of the time they are the same. Sometimes the previous rent can differ. However, this deviation must be justified.
• Form for opening a rent deposit account: The deposit is usually 3 months’ rent. This must be paid at the latest before the keys are handed over. If the money has not reached the deposit account, an agency does not have to hand over the keys. Nobody wants this (especially not if the moving van is already at the door). If necessary, take the receipt of the transfer with you on the day of the handover. The account runs in the name of the tenant and interest will be put on the account. No one can access the account during the rental period. For the dissolution – after moving out – a dissolution form must be signed by the tenant, the agency and the bank.
• Form for ordering name tags: As a rule, the agency takes care of ordering the name tags for the mailbox, the bell at the entrance and the bell in front of the apartment. This is to get a uniform picture. The bill for this is at the expense of the future tenant.