Moving to Cornaux: A Village Between Two Lakes

Cornaux is a village in the Entre-deux-Lacs region, between Lake Neuchâtel and Lake Biel, where most homes are detached houses and the countryside is never far away. For a move to Cornaux, this setting changes how you prepare the day: access, carrying distances and truck parking are sorted out differently from in a town. Whether you are looking for a removal company in Cornaux or simply preparing your departure, here is what to plan for.

Cornaux, a village of houses between two lakes

Cornaux belongs to the Entre-deux-Lacs, an area of open countryside between Lake Neuchâtel and Lake Biel. Detached houses dominate, with some small apartment buildings and older homes in the village centre, depending on the area. The volume to move therefore varies a great deal from one household to the next.

Moving out of a house often means more furniture, more boxes and extra spaces: cellar, garage, attic (galetas), garden. An apartment in a small building raises other questions: stairs, whether or not there is a lift, a landing to protect. When you describe your home in your request, state the type of building, the number of rooms and anything outside the main rooms (garden tools, outdoor furniture, bikes).

The canton of Neuchâtel alternates lakeshore, sloping vineyards, valleys and the Neuchâtel mountains; Cornaux sits on the lake side, which sets it apart from the upper parts of the canton with their long, snowy winters. If your departure or arrival involves another part of the canton, mention it: road conditions can differ.

Access, parking and floors in Cornaux

In a village of detached houses, access is often simpler than in a town centre, but it still needs checking. A few points to verify before the date:

• Truck size: a narrow street, a tight bend or a private track can stop a large vehicle from getting close. Say so in your request so the removal company plans the right size.
• Carrying distance: if the truck has to stop some way from the door, the carrying distance grows, which can lengthen the job.
• Stairs and floors: a house on several levels, a cellar or an attic floor count as much as a floor in an apartment building. Indicate them for each address.
• Slopes and uneven access: a sloping entrance or a terraced garden makes moving heavy furniture harder.
• Furniture lift: for a bulky item that will not go up or down the stairs, a furniture lift can be considered, provided the location allows it to be set up.

If the truck, a furniture lift or a skip has to occupy the public road, prior permission from the commune or the police may be required. Ask the commune a few days, or even a few weeks, before the date. Our guide to the parking permit for moving day explains the procedure.

In winter, snow or ice can make access trickier: plan to clear the entrance and tell the removal company if conditions change.

Choosing the right time to move to Cornaux

A tenancy is terminated by giving three months’ notice for the date set by local custom or, failing that, for the end of a three-month tenancy quarter (art. 266c of the Swiss Code of Obligations, CO), unless the contract provides for longer. Customary dates vary by canton and commune: reread your lease and check local custom. Notice must be given in writing (art. 266l CO). For more detail, see our guide to moving dates in Switzerland.

The periods around tenancy dates are generally the busiest: removal companies’ availability shrinks and dates book up earlier. If your schedule is flexible, a date in mid-month or outside the peaks makes it easier to find a slot.

The season matters too. In summer, the heat means looking after the crew and protecting certain sensitive items. In winter, cold, snow and ice can slow loading and complicate access. In every case, request your quote early enough.

Administrative steps in Cornaux

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, you can report it online through eDéménagement (eUmzugCH); check whether your commune offers it. Our guide to registering with the commune helps you avoid forgetting anything.

Other steps go with the move:

• Change of address: bank, insurers, employer, subscriptions, energy and telecoms providers.
• Terminating the lease: in writing, with the express consent of the spouse or partner for the family home (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).
• Move-out inspection (état des lieux) and handover: plan the cleaning, minor repairs and return of the keys.
• Rental deposit: it cannot exceed three months’ rent for a home (art. 257e CO) and is paid into a blocked account in the tenant’s name.

If you are arriving from abroad, customs and residence permit formalities are added. If you are leaving for France, the nearby border in the canton also changes a few formalities: check with the relevant authorities before the date.

Useful services for your move to Cornaux

Residential moving

For a family leaving or joining a house in the village, residential moving covers loading, transport and unloading. State the number of rooms, floors and outbuildings to get a suitable quote.

Packing and unpacking

A house often means a lot of items to protect: crockery, frames, fragile objects. Packing and unpacking saves time, especially if your schedule is tight.

Furniture assembly and disassembly

Wardrobes, beds and bookcases pass more easily through a narrow staircase or stairwell once taken apart. Furniture assembly and disassembly avoids damaging both the furniture and the walls.

Furniture lift

When a staircase is too narrow or a piece has to go through a window or balcony, the furniture lift is an option. It needs a clear spot and sometimes permission to occupy the public road.

Storage

Between two homes, or if the new one is smaller, storage lets you keep part of your belongings for as long as needed.

End-of-lease cleaning

To hand the home back in good condition, end-of-lease cleaning prepares the move-out inspection and lightens the last day.

Requesting a quote

1. You describe your move online: departure and arrival addresses, volume, floors, access and preferred date.
2. Professional removal companies in the region contact you, possibly for a visit on site to assess the volume and access.
3. You compare the free quotes and remain free to choose, or not.

The cost depends on volume, distance, floors and access, a possible furniture lift, packing and the date. To request a quote, simply fill in the form: it is free and without obligation.

Around Cornaux

If your plans involve the surrounding area, you can also see the pages on Neuchâtel and Val-de-Ruz. For an overview of the canton, see moving in the canton of Neuchâtel, or browse all the communes covered in French-speaking Switzerland.

Frequently asked questions