Moving to Riddes depends on where the home is: on the Rhône plain, access is straightforward, whereas towards La Tzoumaz and the 4 Vallées, the road and the chalets call for more forward planning. To move to Riddes, simply describe your project online: professional removal companies in the area will contact you and prepare a free, no-obligation quote.
Riddes: a municipality between plain and mountains
Riddes lies on the Rhône plain, at the start of the road and the lifts leading up to La Tzoumaz and the 4 Vallées. This gives the municipality two very different sides when it comes to moving.
On the plain, you will mostly find homes that are reachable at ground level or by a short flight of stairs: flats in apartment buildings, detached houses and villas. The streets there are generally wide enough for a removal lorry, which makes loading easier and shortens the carrying distance.
At altitude, you are more likely to find chalets and mountain residences. Access depends on the road, the gradient and the season. A chalet may be lived in all year round, or serve as a second home that you furnish or empty for a sale or a letting. If you are looking for a residential move, say what type of home it is as soon as you make your request.
Access, parking and floors in Riddes
On the plain, access is an advantage: a large lorry can usually get close to the entrance, which limits carrying and speeds up loading. In an apartment building, still check whether there is a lift, how big it is and how many floors there are, as a large piece of furniture may not fit inside.
For chalets at altitude, the situation is different. A narrow mountain road, a steep slope or a tight bend may mean using a smaller lorry, or even shuttling between a main vehicle and a lighter one. In winter, snow and ice can make access more demanding: allow some leeway in your schedule.
If the lorry, a furniture lift or a skip needs to occupy the public road, prior permission from the municipality or the police may be required. Check with the municipality a few days, or even a few weeks, before the planned date. The guide on the parking permit for moving day explains the procedure.
In your request, mention anything that complicates access: a narrow staircase, no lift, the distance between the lorry and the door, a mountain road. The removal companies can then adapt the vehicle, the team and the equipment.
When to move to Riddes
A tenancy is terminated in writing, with three months’ notice for the date set by local custom or, failing that, for the end of a three-month period of the lease (art. 266c of the Swiss Code of Obligations, CO), unless your contract provides for longer. Customary moving dates vary by canton and municipality: check your lease and find out about local custom. The guide on moving dates in Switzerland can help.
Dates close to the customary moving dates are often in high demand: if you can, book early or choose a weekday to have more choice.
The season matters too. On the plain, summer heat makes the work gruelling: it is better to load early in the morning and bring water. At altitude, snow can complicate access to chalets in winter; spring and autumn often offer calmer conditions for going up to or coming down from the mountain.
Administrative steps in Riddes: residents’ registration and housing
Every move must be reported to the residents’ registration office (contrôle des habitants): departure in the old municipality, arrival in the new one, within the period set by the canton. In many municipalities, the notification can be made online via eDéménagement (eUmzugCH). The guide on registering with the commune summarises the steps.
On the housing side, notice is given in writing (art. 266l CO). For the family home, termination by a tenant who is married or in a registered partnership requires the express consent of the spouse or partner (art. 266m and 266n CO). If you leave before the end of the lease, you can be released by presenting a solvent replacement tenant willing to take over the lease on the same terms (art. 264 CO).
On arrival, 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. Prepare for the move-out inspection (état des lieux) and the move-in one, and remember to change your address with the post office, insurers, your bank and your employer.
If you are arriving from abroad or leaving for France, customs and the residence permit come into play: find out from the relevant authorities before the date of the move.
Useful services for a move in Riddes
Furniture lift
For a flat on an upper floor without a suitable lift, or a chalet with narrow access, a furniture lift avoids carrying large items of furniture up and down the stairs. It needs space to set up, which is why it pays to arrange any permit in advance.
Packing and unpacking
Packing and unpacking protect crockery, frames and fragile items, especially if the journey includes a mountain road.
Furniture assembly and disassembly
A large bed or wardrobe is taken apart before going through a chalet staircase. Furniture assembly and disassembly saves time on the day.
Storage
If your move-out date does not coincide with your move-in date at the new home, storage lets you keep your belongings safe.
End-of-lease cleaning
To hand the home back in good condition, end-of-lease cleaning prepares for the move-out inspection.
House clearance
Before leaving or selling a chalet, a house clearance empties whatever will not be taken with you.
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 a visit to the property, to assess the volume and the access.
- You compare the free quotes and remain free to choose, or not to proceed.
The cost varies according to the volume, the distance, the floors and access, the use of a furniture lift, packing and the date. To get your estimate, simply request a quote.
Around Riddes
Unsure between several municipalities? See our pages on Saxon, Leytron and Nendaz. For an overview, see moving in the canton of Valais or all municipalities. For any move to Riddes, the process remains the same.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions: moving to Riddes
On the plain, access is generally easy and a good-sized lorry can get close to the entrance. For chalets at altitude, the road, the gradient and the season may require a smaller vehicle. State the address and the access in your quote request.
Occupying the public road with a lorry, a furniture lift or a skip may require prior permission from the municipality or the police. Check with the municipality a few days or weeks before the move.
On the plain, avoid the hot hours of summer and load early in the morning. At altitude, snow can complicate access to chalets in winter. Spring and autumn are often more comfortable, but dates close to the customary lease moving dates are in high demand.
Report your departure in the old municipality and your arrival in the new one to the residents' registration office (contrôle des habitants), within the period set by the canton. In many municipalities, the notification is made online via eDéménagement. Also remember to change your address with the post office, insurers and your employer.
Describe your move online: addresses, volume, floors, date. Professional removal companies in the area contact you, possibly for a visit, and prepare a free, no-obligation quote. You then compare and remain free in your choice.