Moving to Chexbres: Vineyards, Slopes and Lanes

Moving to Chexbres is not like moving in a town on the plain: the village overlooks Lake Geneva, in the middle of the terraced vineyards of Lavaux, and its roads are narrow and steep. To move to Chexbres without unpleasant surprises, it is best to plan truck access, carrying distances and paperwork in advance. On this site you describe your project just once: professional removal companies in the area then contact you with a free, no-obligation quote.

Chexbres, a Lavaux village from a moving perspective

Chexbres is a Lavaux village perched above Lake Geneva, amid terraced vineyards listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This exceptional setting has a very practical consequence: buildings follow the terrain, and homes are stacked up the slope.

You will mostly find village houses, often old, with sometimes narrow indoor staircases, compact stairwells and entrances set back from the street. Alongside these houses there are also apartment buildings and more recent homes. Each type of home raises its own questions: width of passages, whether there is a lift, and the volume of furniture to bring in or take out.

If you are leaving or moving into this kind of home, say so when you request a quote. Removal companies in the area know the Lavaux terrain and can adapt their preparation, sometimes after a visit on site.

Access, parking and floors in Chexbres

In the vineyards, roads are narrow and steep, and some village lanes do not allow a large truck to get close to the door. Depending on the address, the vehicle may have to stop lower down or further away, and loading will then involve a longer carrying distance. This distance, like the number of steps, affects working time and therefore the quote.

A few points to check before moving day:

• the width and slope of the street in front of the home, to choose the size of the truck;
• the number of flights of stairs and whether there is a lift;
• whether a furniture lift can be set up from the street or courtyard, useful when the staircase is too narrow for a sofa, a wardrobe or a piano;
• where the truck can stop without obstructing traffic.

Occupying the public road with a truck, a furniture lift or a skip may require prior permission from the commune or the police. Ask the commune a few days or weeks before the planned date, especially if the street is narrow. Our guide to the parking permit for moving day explains the procedure. In winter, also bear in mind possible snow and ice on sloping roads: allow a spare date if you can.

When to move to Chexbres: dates, seasons and weather

A tenant can terminate a lease by giving three months’ notice for the date set by local custom or, failing that, for the end of a three-month lease period (art. 266c of the Swiss Code of Obligations, CO), unless the contract provides for longer. Customary dates vary by canton and commune: check the exact date in your lease and with your letting agency (régie) or landlord. Notice must be given in writing (art. 266l CO).

Standard moving dates concentrate removals: removal companies are then in great demand, and it is best to ask for your quote early. To better understand these deadlines, see our guide to moving dates in Switzerland.

As for the season, summer makes manoeuvring on slopes and in lanes easier, but the heat makes carrying more tiring in a sun-exposed village. Winter brings the risk of snow and ice on roads in the area. In both cases, tell the movers about any access detail: they can organise the job accordingly.

Administrative steps for a move to Chexbres

Every move must be reported to the residents’ registration office (contrôle des habitants): departure in the old commune, arrival in the new one, within the period set by the canton. In many communes, registration is done online via eMoving (eUmzugCH); check whether this is possible for your move. Our guide to registering with the commune takes you through it step by step.

Next, remember to notify your new address (employer, insurers, bank, subscriptions, post office). If you are leaving a home:

• notice is given in writing; for the family home, termination by a married tenant or one in a registered partnership requires the express consent of the spouse or partner (art. 266m and 266n CO);
• if you leave without respecting the notice period or date, you can be released by presenting a solvent replacement tenant willing to take over the lease on the same terms (art. 264 CO);
• the move-out inspection (état des lieux) must be carefully prepared, with the home emptied and cleaned;
• for a new home, the rental deposit cannot exceed three months’ rent (art. 257e CO) and is paid into a blocked account in the tenant’s name.

If you are arriving from abroad or leaving for France, the formalities differ: customs clearance and the question of a residence permit. Check with the relevant authorities before the moving date.

Useful services for moving to Chexbres

Residential moving

For an apartment or a village house, a residential move lets you organise loading, transport and placement according to the home’s real access. Specify the floors, stairs and the distance between the door and the truck.

Furniture lift

When the staircase is narrow or the stairwell does not allow turning with bulky furniture, a furniture lift avoids many difficulties. Its set-up depends on the space available in front of the façade and on possible permission from the commune.

Packing and unpacking

Packing and unpacking protects crockery, frames and fragile items, especially when carrying is long or uphill. It also saves time if you are handling both your lease and your departure.

Furniture assembly and disassembly

In a village house, a large bed or wardrobe sometimes fits through only once taken apart. Furniture assembly and disassembly anticipates this before departure and reassembles everything on arrival.

Storage

If the two homes are not vacated on the same day, or if the new one is smaller, storage lets you keep part of your belongings for as long as needed.

End-of-lease cleaning

Before the move-out inspection (état des lieux), end-of-lease cleaning helps you hand the home back in good condition, without having to do everything on the last day.

Requesting a quote

1. You describe your move online: departure and arrival addresses, approximate volume, floors, access, desired date.
2. Professional removal companies in the area contact you, possibly for a visit on site, which is useful with sloping roads or narrow stairs.
3. You compare the free quotes and remain free to choose, or not to choose at all.

The final cost depends on volume, distance, floors and access, any furniture lift, packing and the date. To get started, simply request a quote.

Around Chexbres

If your project involves a neighbouring village, see our pages on Bourg-en-Lavaux, Puidoux and Vevey. You will also find more general information on moving in the canton of Vaud, and the list of all communes covered in French-speaking Switzerland.

Frequently asked questions