A move to Ecublens has its own rhythm: this commune in the Ouest lausannois is home to EPFL, and with it many students and researchers who arrive, often from abroad, with a few boxes and furnished accommodation to settle into. To move to Ecublens without stress, you need to plan access, dates and paperwork ahead. This page helps you prepare your move before you request a free quote from removal companies in the area.
Ecublens: campus, residential districts and the lakeside
Ecublens lies in the Ouest lausannois, close to the lake. It is home to EPFL, residential districts and student housing. This mix gives it a rather particular moving profile: many small loads, residents who stay only a few years, and comings and goings concentrated at certain times of year.
The types of housing vary. Studios and rooms in student residences, often furnished, mostly involve transporting personal belongings: suitcases, boxes of books, computer equipment, a bike. Flats in the residential buildings of the quieter districts tend to house couples, families or researchers settled for several years, with a larger volume. Depending on the property, a move may fit in a van or call for a larger lorry.
If you are a student or researcher, say in your request what is already in place (furniture, appliances): this lets the movers estimate the real volume correctly.
Access, parking and floors: preparing moving day in Ecublens
In a residential district or near a residence, lorry access depends on the street and the spaces available in front of the building. Before the date, check where the vehicle can stop, how far the lorry will be from the door, and whether a lift is usable. The longer the carry or the more flights of stairs, the more working time is needed.
A few points to mention in your request:
- the floor and whether there is a lift, at both the old and the new address;
- the width of stairwells and corridors if you have bulky furniture;
- the distance between where the lorry will park and the entrance;
- any need for a furniture lift if the lift is too small or there is none.
If the lorry, 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 move. Our guide to the parking permit for moving day explains the process.
When to move to Ecublens: dates, term starts and seasons
For a rented home, the notice period is in principle three months 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 your contract provides for longer. Customary dates vary by canton and commune: check your lease and local custom. Notice must be given in writing (art. 266l CO). The guide Terminating a lease in Switzerland sets out the steps.
In Ecublens, the presence of EPFL influences the calendar: arrivals of students and researchers probably cluster around the start of the academic year, and departures around the end of studies or contracts. Movers are then in higher demand, as around lease dates. Book early if your date is close to one of these periods, and stay flexible on the day if you can: a mid-week move is often easier to schedule.
As for the season, summer brings heat for upper floors and carrying, while winter can make pavements slippery. In both cases, bring water, protective covers and a little margin in the day.
Paperwork in Ecublens: residents’ registration office, lease and deposit
Every move must be reported to the residents’ registration office (contrôle des habitants): your departure in the old commune and your arrival in the new one, within the period set by the canton. In many communes, this can be done online through eDéménagement (eUmzugCH). The guide on registering with the commune takes you through it step by step.
Also remember to:
- notify your new address (bank, insurers, employer, subscriptions, university);
- carry out the move-out inspection (état des lieux) and hand the property back clean;
- if you leave before the end of the lease, propose a solvent replacement tenant willing to take over the lease on the same terms (art. 264 CO);
- prepare the rental deposit for the new home: it cannot exceed three months’ rent for a dwelling (art. 257e CO) and is paid into a blocked account in the tenant’s name;
- if you are married or in a registered partnership, obtain the express consent of your spouse or partner to terminate the family home’s lease (art. 266m and 266n CO).
For an arrival from abroad, customs formalities for your personal effects and the residence permit depend on your situation and nationality. Find out before leaving from the relevant authorities. The same applies to a move to France.
Useful services for moving to Ecublens
Residential moving
For a studio, a shared flat or a family home, a residential move is adapted to the volume. A small student move is prepared differently from a full household: be clear about what you are taking.
International moving
Many arrivals in Ecublens come from abroad. International moving covers shipping your belongings, customs formalities and timing. Describe your starting point so that the movers can give you a precise answer.
Packing and unpacking
Books, personal lab equipment, crockery: packing and unpacking saves time when the weeks before your arrival are busy. The service can cover the whole home or just a few fragile rooms.
Furniture assembly and disassembly
In furnished accommodation, you sometimes still have a bookcase or desk to put together. Furniture assembly and disassembly saves you losing an evening to instructions and tools.
Storage
Between two homes, or during a stay abroad, storage lets you keep your belongings for as long as needed. State the planned duration and volume.
End-of-lease cleaning
To hand the property back in good condition, end-of-lease cleaning prepares the move-out inspection. Build it into your schedule before the keys are handed over.
Requesting a quote for your move to Ecublens
- You describe your move online: departure and arrival addresses, volume, floors, access, preferred date.
- Professional removal companies in the area contact you, possibly for a site visit, to draw up a reliable estimate.
- You compare the free quotes and remain free to choose, or not to proceed.
Ready to start? You can request a quote in a few minutes.
Around Ecublens
If your project involves neighbouring communes, see our pages on moving to Chavannes-près-Renens and moving to Renens. For an overview, see the page on moving in the canton of Vaud and all the communes we cover.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions: moving to Ecublens
Yes, small loads are a common request. State the number of boxes, any furniture and the floor: removal companies in the area can then offer a suitable solution, without you paying for a lorry that is too big.
It depends on the location. If the lorry, a furniture lift or a skip occupies the public road, a permit from the commune or the police may be required. Ask a few days or weeks before the planned date.
For a rented home, first look at the dates in your lease and local custom, with three months' notice in principle. The start and end of the academic year are probably busier: book early.
You must report your arrival to the residents' registration office within the period set by the canton. In many communes, this is done online through eDéménagement (eUmzugCH). Also remember to give your new address to your service providers.
It depends on the volume, the distance, the floors and access, whether a furniture lift is needed, packing and the date. The best approach is to request a free quote and describe your situation precisely.