Rent a flat as an expatriate in Switzerland
You've decided to try your luck in Switzerland? That's great. Regardless of whether your move to Switzerland is for professional or private reasons, the main focus is on one thing: finding a place to live 🏠 When emigrating to Switzerland, it is often a challenge to find a suitable flat in good time - especially in cities with high demand. If you want to emigrate to Switzerland, you should familiarise yourself with rental deposits, flat applications and regional differences at an early stage - we at Deine3a will be happy to help you.
Your new home 🏠
Congratulations on your new job in Switzerland. The next step is to look for a flat. City or rural surroundings? What do Swiss landlords value? We can provide you with comprehensive advice for your move from Germany to Switzerland. We provide valuable tips to help you find a flat quickly.
Follow us on
View the objects
Below you will find the most important steps you need to take to find a flat in Switzerland. The first and most important tip: Be patient, it will work out!
Moving into your new home begins with the search for a suitable property. It is in the Switzerland It is customary to view flats in person if you are interested. Due to the regional differences in demand, there are many interested parties for a property in the Zurich region, for example. You should be prepared for this.
The viewing will either be conducted by someone from the property management company or the current residents. Take the opportunity to ask questions.
Apply for a flat
Have you found a flat that suits you and is compatible with your budget? Then you now need to apply for the flat. Nowadays, this is usually done electronically by submitting your documents to the relevant administration by e-mail. If the landlord or landlady is present at the viewing, you can also hand in the application form and other documents directly.
What belongs in a flat application
- the completed registration form
- Valid debt enforcement extract (usually not yet available, then a German Schufa information)
- Copy of the foreigner's identity card (if not yet available, then identity card)
Swiss flat - what you can expect
Overall, the fit-out standard of Swiss flats can be described as high. In most buildings, tenants use a communal laundry room. In newer (and more expensive) properties, the washing machine and tumble dryer are housed within the flat.
The rent
The gross rent for your Swiss flat is made up of the net rent ("cold") and the ancillary costs and includes
- the heating and hot water costs
- Staircase cleaning
- the wastewater charges
- Electricity is usually billed separately. Tenants receive the bill directly from the electricity company.
Pets
If you want to bring pets with you 🐶, you must declare this to customs and make arrangements with the landlord before you move in. In principle, there is nothing to be said against this, but the house rules differ depending on the property and property management.
Cancelling a rental agreement
In Switzerland, there are fixed dates on which most tenants must give notice to leave their flat. These are 31 March, 30 June and 30 September of each year. The landlord can set other cancellation dates or notice periods.
The following regions and cities are known for having a rather difficult housing market: Zurich and the surrounding area, Bern, Lucerne and the surrounding area, Basel and the Lake Constance region.
How expensive is the Swiss housing market?
An average one-bedroom flat costs between 800 and 1,000 Swiss francs.
If you want more space, you should expect the following approximate rental prices:
- 2-room flat in the city centre: from CHF 1,800
- 2-room flat outside the city: from CHF 1,400
- 4-room flat in the city centre: from CHF 2,600
- 4-room flat outside the city: from CHF 2,000
Property portals - Emigration Switzerland
House hunting in Switzerland
Emigrating to Switzerland: A large proportion of people live in rented accommodation. According to various statistics, Germany is the number one tenant country in the EU with a tenant share of almost 51 per cent (2021). In contrast to Switzerland, however, the Germans fall behind, with almost 58 per cent of people living in rented accommodation.
The property market in Switzerland is highly competitive. In contrast to Germany, the housing market is significantly smaller. This is due both to the limited area and to the fact that living space is highly sought after in urban areas due to the high quality of life. The number of available flats is therefore more limited in most cases compared to Germany, which leads to greater competition among people looking for accommodation. This in turn can make the search for accommodation in Switzerland more time-consuming and lead to higher rental prices.
If you want to upgrade your life and successfully emigrate to Switzerland, it can make sense to familiarise yourself with the country's regions and municipalities in advance of your emigration. For example, if you work in Zurich, you could look for a flat in Uster, Wallisellen, Bülach, Urdorf or Thalwil. These locations are easy to reach by public transport as well as by car. If you are more flexible in terms of where you live, you increase your chances of finding a flat more quickly.
Last but not least, if you are about to start work and have not yet found a flat, you could look for furnished business flats (also known as furnished residential properties). These may be a little more expensive than conventional flats, but in an emergency you could move into such flats all the more quickly, as business flats are usually rented for a limited period and availability is often guaranteed.
We wish you good luck and success in your search for accommodation in Switzerland.
10 tips for emigrating to Switzerland - How to do it right!
- Start looking for a flat earlyThe market is tight, especially in cities.
- Preparing a rental applicationProof of salary, debt enforcement extract and possibly references required.
- Plan for a deposit: Pay up to 3 months' rent into a blocked account or take out rental deposit insurance.
- Note minimum rental periodMany contracts have a minimum term - check.
- Check additional costsHeating, water and administration costs are often not included in the rent.
- Liability insurance requiredOften mandatory for rental contracts.
- Check flat inspection carefullyRecord damage to avoid later costs.
- Read the rental agreement carefully: Observe notice periods and subletting clauses.
- Do not forget to register your place of residenceWithin 14 days of moving in at the municipality.
- Consider alternativesIf you are in a hurry, use a shared flat or furnished flat to get started.
👉 Get in touch for a free consultation: Contact
👉 Budget calculator - How much will Switzerland cost me? Budget calculator
👉 Ready to emigrate? Get the Switzerland checklist: Checklist
👉 You can find more topics relating to your emigration here: Topic overview
👉 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: YouTube
Budget calculator - How much will Switzerland cost me per month?
Emigrating to Switzerland: With our budget calculator, you can realistically estimate your monthly expenses in Switzerland. From rent to health insurance to taxes - the tool calculates your living costs and shows you your savings rate at the end. Ideal for preparing for your emigration to Switzerland.
Request free advice - Emigration Switzerland
Follow us on
Counselling team
Our advisory team and office staff specialise in emigrants from Germany and Austria, and we help people emigrate to Switzerland every day. If you would also like to emigrate to Switzerland, please get in touch using the contact form and get to know our team in Zurich - we look forward to hearing from you! 🤗
Do you have any questions?
You want to emigrate to Switzerland? We are here for you. Our consultations are free of charge. You can reach us via the contact form or drop by for a coffee in Zurich.
