Moving in Geneva takes different planning from elsewhere: old buildings, narrow or missing lifts, cobbled streets in the old town and tricky parking in the city centre. Whether you are a tenant, a student, a family or a newcomer from abroad, moving to Geneva means thinking ahead about access and paperwork. By describing your move online, you receive free, no-obligation quotes from professional removal companies in the region, without having to search for a mover in Geneva yourself.
Geneva and its districts: what they mean for a move
Switzerland’s second-largest city, Geneva lies at the end of Lake Geneva and is crossed by the Rhône and the Arve. Each area has its own moving constraints.
The old town, built on a hill around Saint-Pierre Cathedral, has old buildings, narrow cobbled streets and sometimes steep staircases. The dense districts of Pâquis, Eaux-Vives, Plainpalais and Jonction are made up of tightly packed apartment blocks, where homes are often on upper floors. Champel, more residential, mixes apartment buildings with quieter housing, with access that varies from one address to the next.
Geneva has a large number of tenants and is home to many international organisations: people arriving from or leaving for abroad are common, and timetables are sometimes tight. The tram and bus network is dense, which makes daily life easier but also leaves a large vehicle less room to manoeuvre in some streets.
Access, parking and floors in Geneva: what to plan for
In the centre, traffic and parking are difficult. A removal lorry needs a space to stop as close to the entrance as possible, and that space is not always available on the day. If access is narrow or the street is congested, the movers may have to use a smaller vehicle or make several trips, which lengthens the job.
Older buildings often have no lift, or a small one that fits neither a large sofa, nor a wardrobe, nor a full bed. Every floor climbed on foot adds to the time and effort involved. When the staircase is too narrow or the furniture too bulky, a furniture lift is common in Geneva: it goes through the façade, a window or a balcony. Mention this in your quote request, together with the departure and arrival floors.
Occupying the public highway with a lorry, a furniture lift or a skip may require prior authorisation from the commune or the police. Find out a few days, or even a few weeks, before the planned date: the guide on the parking permit for moving day explains the procedure. Also tell your movers about cobblestones, entrance steps, inner courtyards and narrow passages: all of these affect the carrying distance.
When to move in Geneva: lease dates and seasons
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 lease quarter (art. 266c of the Swiss Code of Obligations, CO), unless the contract provides for a longer period. Customary dates vary by canton and commune: check your lease and local custom. Notice must be given in writing (art. 266l CO). 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). For the procedure, see the guide to terminating a lease in Switzerland.
Around lease dates, many households move at the same time: removal companies are in higher demand, parking spaces are more contested and dates are harder to secure. Requesting a quote early gives you a wider choice of dates. If you leave before the lease date, article 264 CO allows you to be released by putting forward a creditworthy replacement tenant who is willing to take over the lease on the same terms.
As for the weather, summer brings heat in stairwells and non-air-conditioned homes, while winter brings cold and sometimes rain or ice on the cobblestones. A wet or slippery surface makes carrying slower and calls for more care with furniture.
Paperwork in Geneva: registration, lease and housing
Every move must be reported to the residents’ registration office (contrôle des habitants), both for departure from the old commune and arrival in the new one, within the period set by the canton. In many communes, this can be done online through eMoving (eUmzugCH). Then remember to give your new address to your employer, health insurer, bank, post office and subscription providers.
When leaving the property, plan for the move-out inspection (état des lieux) and handing back the keys: the home must be clean and empty, and end-of-lease cleaning avoids many disputes. On arrival, the rental deposit may not 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 formalities and a residence permit come into play, depending on your situation and nationality. For a move to France, which borders the whole canton, read the guide on moving from Geneva to France and check with the relevant authorities before the date.
Useful services for a move in Geneva
Residential moving
For an apartment on an upper floor, a student studio or a family home, residential moving remains the basic service. Specify the floors, whether there is a lift and the distance between the lorry and the entrance.
Furniture lift
With narrow staircases and tiny lifts, a furniture lift is often the best solution for bulky items. It needs a clear spot in front of the façade, and so possibly a public highway permit.
International moving
Many people in Geneva leave for or arrive from abroad. International moving covers customs formalities and long-distance transport, with a schedule to be set well in advance.
Packing and unpacking
Packing and unpacking saves time for anyone who needs to vacate a home quickly, or protect fragile items before carrying them down narrow stairs.
Storage
Between two homes, or before arriving from abroad, storage lets you keep your belongings until the new apartment is ready.
Urgent moving
When a lease ends or a job starts at short notice, urgent moving lets you look for removal companies available quickly, depending on their schedules.
Request a quote for your move in Geneva
- You describe your move online: departure and arrival addresses, volume, floors, access, preferred date.
- Professional removal companies in the region contact you, possibly for a visit on site.
- You compare the free quotes and remain free to choose, or not.
The cost depends on the volume, distance, floors and access, any furniture lift, packing and the date: the free quote gives you a figure suited to your situation. To get started, request a quote.
Around Geneva: neighbouring communes
Moving to another commune in the Geneva area? See our pages on Carouge, Lancy and Chêne-Bougeries. For an overview, see the page on moving in the canton of Geneva or all communes.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions: moving in Geneva
Not always, but it is common in older buildings with narrow staircases or no suitable lift. If a large piece of furniture fits neither the stairs nor the lift, a furniture lift is necessary. State the floors and access in your request so the movers can plan for it.
Parking is difficult in the centre and the old town. Occupying the public highway with a lorry, a furniture lift or a skip may require prior authorisation from the commune or the police. Find out a few days or weeks before the planned date.
Around lease dates, removal companies are in higher demand. Notice is three months for the date set by local custom or, failing that, for the end of a lease quarter, unless your contract provides for longer. Check your lease and request your quote early enough.
Report your departure from the old commune and your arrival in the new one to the residents' registration office (contrôle des habitants), within the period set by the canton. In many communes, this can be done online through eMoving (eUmzugCH). Then give your new address to your usual contacts.
Yes, mention it in your request: professional removal companies in the region will contact you. Customs and residence formalities may apply, depending on your situation and destination. Check with the relevant authorities well before the moving date.