Moving to Les Ponts-de-Martel is not quite like moving in the lowlands: the village sits in the Les Ponts valley, surrounded by peat bogs, and winters there are long and cold. Snow, ice and village houses mean you need to plan access and timing ahead. By describing your move online, you receive free quotes from professional removal companies in the area, who know this kind of terrain.
Les Ponts-de-Martel: a valley village between the Mountains and the Val-de-Travers
Les Ponts-de-Martel lies in the Les Ponts valley, between Le Locle, La Chaux-de-Fonds and the Val-de-Travers. The landscape, shaped by peat bogs, is open and exposed: winter sets in for a long time, which matters as soon as you plan a move.
As for housing, the village is mostly made up of village houses, often old, with entrances, staircases and landings designed long before the age of large modern furniture. There are also more recent homes and flats in small buildings, but the character of the place remains that of a village. This changes how a move is estimated: a narrow staircase, a winding stairwell or a low door may mean dismantling some furniture or using a furniture lift.
If you are coming from the lowlands or the lakeside, bear in mind that mountain village habits apply: heating, cleared access routes, parking close to the house. A local removal company takes this into account in its quote. For a residential move, tell them from the outset the type of home and the number of floors.
Access, parking and floors in Les Ponts-de-Martel
In a village, access to the front door is often the first thing to clarify. A removal lorry needs a place to stop as close as possible to the entrance. If the street is narrow or cars are parked on both sides, the carrying distance increases, and with it the working time. State it in your request: “the lorry can park in front of the door” or “allow a few dozen metres on foot” genuinely changes the quote.
Village houses often have several levels, with stairs that are sometimes steep and no lift. For bulky items such as a sofa, a wardrobe or a piano, a furniture lift can avoid the staircase: it goes in through the window or balcony, provided there is enough space in front of the façade. The movers can suggest it during a visit.
If the lorry or the furniture lift has to occupy the public road, prior authorisation from the commune or the police may be required. Enquire a few days, or even a few weeks, before the planned date, especially if you are aiming for a busy period.
In winter, add snow: slippery pavements and access routes, snowdrifts at the roadside, parking space reduced by snow clearing. Make sure the path is cleared and gritted before the team arrives. Professional movers know how to work in these conditions, but it is best to tell them in advance.
Choosing the right time to move to Les Ponts-de-Martel
The lease determines part of the calendar. A tenant can terminate 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: the best approach is to reread your lease and find out about local practice. Notice must be given in writing (art. 266l CO).
Around lease termination dates, movers are in great demand: if your date falls in a busy period, contact them early. A slightly different date, mid-week or mid-month, sometimes leaves more flexibility.
The season matters too. In the Les Ponts valley, winters are long and cold: snow, ice and frost complicate manoeuvring and carrying, and short days limit working time. Spring and autumn are often more comfortable, but that is not always possible. If you move in winter, protect plants and cold-sensitive items, and think about heating the new home before the furniture arrives. Our guide on moving in winter covers these precautions in detail.
Administrative steps for a move to Les Ponts-de-Martel
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 deadline set by the canton. In many communes, the notification can be made online through eMoving (eUmzugCH); check whether this applies to yours. The guide on registering with the commune helps you avoid forgetting anything.
Next, inform the organisations that need your new address: insurers, employer, bank, subscriptions. Also arrange for your mail to be forwarded during the transition period.
To leave your home, plan the move-out inspection (état des lieux) and the return of the keys. If you need to leave before the termination date, art. 264 CO allows you to be released by presenting a solvent replacement tenant willing to take over the lease on the same terms. For a 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). More details in the guide on terminating a lease in Switzerland.
In the new home, the rental deposit may not exceed three months’ rent (art. 257e CO) and is paid into a blocked account in the tenant’s name. People arriving from abroad, or leaving for France, which is very close from the canton, should also find out about customs formalities and residence permits.
Useful services for a move to Les Ponts-de-Martel
Furniture lift
In a village house with a narrow staircase, a furniture lift avoids forcing items through. You do need space in front of the façade and, depending on the case, authorisation to occupy the public road.
Packing and unpacking
Cold weather and journeys on snowy roads make professional packing and unpacking particularly useful: crockery, fragile items and well-wedged boxes withstand transport better.
Furniture assembly and disassembly
To get through a narrow staircase or a low door, some furniture has to be taken apart. Furniture assembly and disassembly lets you have it reassembled on arrival.
Storage
If your new home is not ready, or the move falls in the middle of a snowy spell, storage lets you postpone delivery without stress.
End-of-lease cleaning
Before the move-out inspection, careful end-of-lease cleaning makes handing back the property easier.
Clearance
A village house often means years of accumulated belongings. A house clearance helps reduce the volume before you leave.
Requesting a quote
- You describe your move online: departure and arrival addresses, approximate volume, floors, access, preferred date.
- Professional removal companies in the area contact you, possibly for an on-site visit, which is useful for assessing access and staircases.
- You compare the free quotes and remain free to choose, or not to proceed.
The cost depends on 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 Les Ponts-de-Martel
If your move involves neighbouring communes, see our pages on Le Locle, La Chaux-de-Fonds and the Val-de-Travers. For an overview, see moving in the canton of Neuchâtel or all the communes covered in French-speaking Switzerland.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions: moving to Les Ponts-de-Martel
It depends on the street and the space available in front of the house. In a village, narrow streets or neighbours' parked cars may mean carrying items over a few metres. Mention it in your request: the removal company will adapt the vehicle and the number of people.
If the vehicle or machine occupies the public road, prior authorisation from the commune or the police may be required. Enquire a few days, or even a few weeks, before the planned date. The removal company can also advise you on the procedure.
Winters there are long and cold, with snow and ice. Moving is still possible, but you need to clear and grit the access routes, allow more time and warn the removal company. A furniture lift or storage can help if conditions are difficult.
You must report your departure to your old commune and your arrival to the new one, at the residents' registration office (contrôle des habitants), within the deadline set by the canton. The notification can often be made online through eMoving. Then remember to give your new address to your insurers, bank and employer.
You describe your move online: addresses, volume, floors and date. Professional removal companies in the area contact you, sometimes for a visit, and you then compare free, no-obligation quotes. The choice remains yours.