Moving in Montreux is nothing like moving on flat ground: the town rises in tiers from the Lake Geneva waterfront to the villages above, and every journey involves slopes, hairpin bends or stairs. Whether you are looking for a removal company in Montreux for a Belle Époque flat or a house in the hills, it is best to plan access well before moving day. This page helps you move to Montreux without nasty surprises, and to request a free quote from professionals in the area.
Montreux, a tiered town between lake and mountain
Montreux is a Riviera town on the shores of Lake Geneva, known for the Montreux Jazz Festival and Chillon Castle. For a move, it is above all its geography that matters: the districts are stacked up the slopes, from the waterfront to hillside villages such as Glion, Caux and Chernex.
The housing stock follows this terrain. Near the lake you find large Belle Époque buildings, often with generous room sizes, narrow stairwells and high floors. Higher up, housing is more varied: more recent apartment blocks, detached houses, villas and chalets, sometimes served by small winding roads.
Whether you are leaving a lakeside flat or a house in Chernex, the logistics and the cost of the move will differ. Stating the exact address, the floor and the type of access in your request allows the movers to prepare.
Access, parking and floors in Montreux: what to plan for
The steep gradient and the many winding streets sometimes limit the size of truck that can get close to a building. On the mountain roads up to the hills, a smaller vehicle, or even several trips, may be needed. The further the truck stops from the front door, the longer the carrying distance, and the more time the job takes.
Stairs are another key point. In older buildings they are often narrow, sometimes without a lift, or with a lift too small for a sofa or wardrobe. In these cases a furniture lift is common in Montreux: it avoids the stairwell and protects both the furniture and the walls. Mention the floors, whether there is a lift and the dimensions of the passageways in your request.
To park a truck, a furniture lift or a skip on the public highway, prior authorisation from the commune or the police may be required. Find out a few days or weeks in advance, especially in narrow or busy streets. In winter, snow and ice can make the roads in the hills trickier: allow some margin in your schedule. The guide on the parking permit for moving day explains the procedure.
Choosing the right time to move in Montreux
Leases have their customary termination dates, which vary by canton and commune. As a general rule, the tenant must give 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. Check your lease and local custom before setting your date. Notice must be given in writing (art. 266l CO), and for the family home, the spouse or partner must expressly consent (art. 266m and 266n CO).
Around the termination dates, removal companies are in high demand: requesting a quote early helps you keep the date you want. If you need to leave before the lease ends, you can be released by presenting a solvent replacement tenant willing to take over the lease on the same terms (art. 264 CO). For more details, see the guide on moving dates.
As for the season, winter brings snow to the hills above Montreux, while summer makes carrying up stairs more gruelling: if possible, choose cooler hours. Also bear in mind the crowds linked to the town’s major events, which can complicate traffic around the waterfront.
Administrative steps for your move to Montreux
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, the report can be made online via eMoving (eUmzugCH). The guide on registering with the commune helps you avoid forgetting anything.
Also remember to change your address with your employer, insurer, bank and the services you depend on. For handing back your home, plan for a thorough clean and a move-out inspection (état des lieux). The rental deposit, limited to three months’ rent for a home (art. 257e CO), is paid into a blocked account in your name.
If you are arriving from abroad, customs and your residence permit come into play; if you are leaving for France, customs formalities are added. Check with the relevant authorities before departure.
Useful services for a move in Montreux
Furniture lift
With high floors, narrow stairs and sloping access, a furniture lift is often the safest solution for bulky furniture. You need to provide a spot to set it up, which may require a permit.
Residential moving
Residential moving covers the loading, transport and delivery of your furniture, whether you are leaving a flat on the waterfront or a villa in the hills.
Packing and unpacking
Packing and unpacking protects crockery, frames and fragile items, which is particularly useful when the route involves many stairs and winding roads.
Furniture assembly and disassembly
A large wardrobe does not always fit in an old stairwell. Furniture assembly and disassembly simplifies transport and reassembly.
Storage
If your new home is not ready or you are downsizing, storage lets you keep your belongings for as long as necessary.
End-of-lease cleaning
To hand back your home in the expected condition, end-of-lease cleaning saves you from managing this step on top of the move.
Requesting a quote
- You describe your move online: departure and arrival addresses, volume, floors, access and preferred date.
- Professional removal companies in the area contact you, possibly for a site visit, which is useful when access is complex.
- You compare the free quotes and remain free to choose, or not.
The cost depends on volume, distance, floors and access, whether a furniture lift is needed, packing and the date. To request a quote, simply fill in the form.
Around Montreux
Moving to a nearby area? See the pages on La Tour-de-Peilz, Vevey and Villeneuve. You can also read our overview of moving in the canton of Vaud and all the communes covered in French-speaking Switzerland.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions: moving to Montreux
It is not compulsory, but it is common. Narrow stairs, high floors and sloping access make carrying bulky furniture difficult. The movers will advise you based on your building, its access and any lift.
Not always. Winding streets and mountain roads up to the hills, such as Glion, Caux or Chernex, can limit the size of the vehicle. State the exact address and access in your request so the movers can adapt their equipment.
Occupying the public highway with a truck, 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, especially in narrow streets.
It depends on your lease, whose termination date follows local custom and a three-month notice period to check in your contract. In winter, snow can complicate the roads in the hills; in summer, the heat makes carrying heavier. Book early around the termination dates.
Report your departure to the old commune and your arrival to the new one, at the residents' registration office, within the period set by the canton. In many communes, eMoving (eUmzugCH) lets you do this online. Also remember to change your address with your insurers and bank.