Moving to Delémont: Old Town and Newer Districts

Moving in Delémont looks very different depending on whether you are leaving a lane in the old town or a building in a newer district. As the capital of the canton of Jura, the commune lies in the valley of the Birse and the Sorne, with a cold winter you need to plan for. To move to Delémont smoothly, it is best to prepare access, the date and the paperwork, then compare quotes from removal companies in the region.

Delémont, from the old town to the newer districts

Delémont combines an old town overlooked by its castle with newer districts that have grown up in the valley. This dual identity shows in the housing: townhouses and older buildings in the heart of the town, and more recent apartment blocks, detached houses and villas in the expansion areas.

For a move, the difference is clear. In the old town the streets are narrow: a large lorry cannot always get close to the door, and carrying distances can be longer. In the newer districts, access is generally easy, with wider roads and buildings equipped with lifts. Describing your home precisely, both the one you are leaving and the one you are moving to, lets the movers adapt the vehicle and the team.

If you are preparing a move in an older area, the guide to moving in an old town offers useful pointers.

Access, parking and floors in Delémont

The first thing to check is the real access to the building. In the old town, a medium-sized lorry may be needed instead of a large one, and bulky furniture will sometimes be carried over a certain distance. In a newer district, the lorry parks closer to the entrance, but the floor and whether there is a lift remain decisive.

A few points to mention in your request:

• the approximate width of the street and the distance between the entrance and where the lorry can stop;
• the floor, the type of staircase (narrow, winding) and whether or not there is a lift;
• bulky furniture (wardrobe, sofa, piano) that must go via the stairs or the window;
• any slopes or steps in front of the entrance.

If the stairs are unsuitable, a furniture lift lets you go through the window or balcony. However, it takes up the public road, just like the lorry: the commune or the police may require prior authorisation. Check with the commune a few days or weeks before the date, using the guide to the parking permit for moving day. In winter, also think about snow clearing and ice in front of the entrance.

Choosing your date to move to Delémont

The right time depends first of all on your lease. A tenant can terminate by giving three months’ notice for the date set by local custom or, failing that, for the end of a lease quarter, unless the contract provides for longer (art. 266c of the Swiss Code of Obligations, CO). Customary dates vary by canton and commune: check your lease and find out about local custom.

Around the usual dates, removal companies are in very high demand. If your date is flexible, moving in the middle of the month or the middle of the week makes booking easier. The guide to moving dates in Switzerland covers this in detail.

As for the season, winter is cold in the canton of Jura and can complicate the work: slippery ground, protection for furniture sensitive to cold, short days. Plan for protection and allow more time. The warmer season is more comfortable, but also in higher demand.

Paperwork in Delémont: departure, arrival and housing

Every move must be reported to the residents’ registration office (contrôle des habitants): the departure in the former commune, the arrival in the new one, within the deadline set by the canton. In many communes, the notification can be made online via eMoving (eUmzugCH). Check whether this is possible in your case.

A few other steps to plan for:

• the lease must be terminated in writing (art. 266l CO); for the family home, the spouse or registered partner must expressly consent (art. 266m and 266n CO);
• if you leave before the end 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 rental deposit may not exceed three months’ rent for a home (art. 257e CO) and it is paid into a blocked account in your name;
• the move-out inspection (état des lieux) and the return of the keys, for which a thorough clean is essential;
• the change of address with the post office, insurers, your employer and banks.

As the French border is close, some moves involve leaving for France or arriving from abroad. In that case, customs and residence permit formalities are added: contact the relevant authorities early and mention it in your request.

Useful services for your move in Delémont

Residential moving

Studio, flat or house: removal companies in the region adapt the team and the vehicle to your volume and your access. See the page on residential moving to find out what can be covered.

Furniture lift

In a narrow lane, or for a high floor with an impractical staircase, the furniture lift avoids long carries. It needs space and, often, authorisation to occupy the public road.

Packing and unpacking

To save time or protect crockery, fragile items and frames, you can entrust packing and unpacking to professionals. It is useful when the journey is long or the schedule is tight.

End-of-lease cleaning

A successful handover depends on a clean home. End-of-lease cleaning can be arranged at the same time as the move, before the move-out inspection.

Storage

If your departure and arrival dates do not coincide, storage lets you keep your belongings for as long as necessary.

Furniture assembly and disassembly

Wardrobes and beds that have been taken apart pass more easily through a narrow staircase. Furniture assembly and disassembly can be included in your request.

Requesting a quote

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

The cost varies with the volume, the distance, the floors and access, the use of a furniture lift, packing and the date. To request a quote, simply fill in the form.

Around Delémont

If you are moving to the surrounding area, see the pages on Rossemaison, Courrendlin and Haute-Sorne. For an overview, see moving in the canton of Jura or all communes. Whether you are looking for a removal company in Delémont or elsewhere in the region, the process is the same.

Frequently asked questions