Moving to Saint-Blaise: old village and hillsides

A move to Saint-Blaise needs planning around the place itself: a town on the shore of Lake Neuchâtel, east of the city of Neuchâtel, with an old village, vineyards and villas on the hillsides. To move to Saint-Blaise without unpleasant surprises, you need to think about access, slopes and paperwork. By describing your project online, you receive a free, no-obligation quote from a removal company in Saint-Blaise or the surrounding area.

Saint-Blaise: a town between lake, vineyards and hillsides

Saint-Blaise offers several types of housing. The old village, with its townhouses, sits alongside more recent apartment buildings, while the vine-covered hillsides are home to villas. Each type of home raises its own questions when you move.

In the old village, the historic buildings often have narrow staircases, tight corridors and doors that limit the passage of large furniture. In hillside villas, the volume to transport is generally larger: cellars, attics, garden, garage. For apartment buildings, much depends on whether there is a lift and how big it is.

The lakeside location and the proximity of Neuchâtel make it easy to travel to the rest of the canton. This is an advantage when planning a move to or from the city, whether you are a tenant, an owner, a student or a family.

Access, parking and floors in Saint-Blaise

Access often determines how moving day is organised. In the narrow streets of an old village, a large lorry cannot always park in front of the door. The movers may then use a smaller vehicle or allow for a longer carrying distance, which lengthens the job.

On the hillsides, slopes and access roads matter: a lorry must be able to drive up, manoeuvre and leave again. Mention this in your request, along with the number of floors, whether there is a lift, the width of the stairs and whether there is a garage or courtyard. When a staircase is too narrow for a bulky piece of furniture, a furniture lift lets it go through a window or over a balcony.

Occupying the public road with a lorry, a furniture lift or a skip may require prior permission from the commune or the police. Check with the commune a few days, or even a few weeks, before the planned date. The guide on the parking permit for moving day explains the procedure. If snow is possible on your date, also arrange for the access to be cleared.

Choosing the right time to move to Saint-Blaise

Your lease sets the calendar. A tenant may terminate it by giving three months’ notice for the date set by local custom or, failing that, for the end of a lease quarter, unless the contract provides for longer. Customary dates vary by canton and commune: reread your lease and check local custom. Notice must be given in writing, and for the family home, the spouse or registered partner must expressly consent. The guide on terminating a lease in Switzerland sets out these rules.

The periods around lease termination dates are the busiest: removal companies are in great demand, so it is best to request your quote early. If you cannot meet the notice period, you can be released by proposing a solvent replacement tenant who is willing to take over the lease on the same terms.

As for the weather, the lakeside is less exposed to snow than the higher parts of the canton, but a rainy or frosty day makes carrying and loading harder. Moves on slopes are better prepared in dry weather.

Paperwork for your move to Saint-Blaise

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 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 insurer, employer, bank and subscriptions. When you leave your old home, the move-out inspection (état des lieux) determines the handover of the property and, where applicable, the rental deposit: it cannot exceed three months’ rent for a dwelling and is held in a blocked account in the tenant’s name.

If you are arriving from abroad or leaving for France, which is very close to the canton, the formalities differ: customs clearance for your belongings and a residence permit depending on your situation. Check with the relevant authorities before the transport date.

Useful services for moving to Saint-Blaise

Residential moving

For an apartment, a townhouse or a villa, a residential move covers loading, transport and delivery. State the volume, floors and access to get a realistic quote.

Packing and unpacking

In a villa or an older home, there are many fragile items. Packing and unpacking by professionals reduces the risk of breakage and saves time on moving day.

Furniture assembly and disassembly

A large piece of furniture does not always fit up a staircase in an old village. Furniture assembly and disassembly lets it be taken apart before transport and put back together on arrival.

Furniture lift

When the staircase is narrow or the floor is high, the furniture lift is often the safest solution. It needs a suitable location, possibly subject to permission from the commune.

Storage solutions

Between two homes, or if the key handover dates do not match, storage lets you keep your belongings for as long as necessary.

End-of-lease cleaning

To hand back the property in the expected condition, end-of-lease cleaning avoids unpleasant surprises at the move-out inspection (état des lieux).

Request a quote

1. You describe your move online: addresses, volume, floors, access and preferred date.
2. Professional removal companies in the area contact you, possibly for a visit on site.
3. You compare the free quotes and remain free to choose or not.

Ready to start? Request a quote in a few minutes.

Around Saint-Blaise

If your project involves the surrounding area, see our pages on Neuchâtel, La Tène and Cornaux. You can also read about moving in the canton of Neuchâtel and all communes.

Frequently asked questions