Rental Application in French-Speaking Switzerland

A rental application in French-speaking Switzerland usually consists of an application form, proof of identity or a residence permit, an extract from the debt enforcement register and proof of income. Having it complete before the first viewings is the best way not to lose a flat to another applicant. This guide covers the documents, how to present them, the traps to avoid and the steps that follow a positive answer.

The documents letting agencies usually ask for

Each letting agency (régie) or landlord sets its own requirements, but the same core set comes up almost everywhere:

• The application form: supplied by the letting agency or downloadable from its website, to be filled in legibly and completely.
• Proof of identity or, for people arriving from abroad, a residence permit.
• A recent extract from the debt enforcement register, requested from the debt enforcement office (office des poursuites) of your place of residence. Order it in advance, as it takes time to process.
• Proof of income: latest payslips, employment contract, or equivalent documents for self-employed people or students.
• A certificate of third-party liability insurance, which some landlords require.
• A reference from your previous landlord, confirming that rent was paid regularly and that the tenancy went well.

If you cannot provide one of these documents, say so frankly in your letter and suggest an alternative (for example a signed employment contract in place of payslips).

Preparing an application that stands out

In cities where homes are let quickly, the application does not only prove that you can pay: it also shows that you are serious.

1. Gather all the documents at once, in paper and digital versions, so you can respond the same day to a request.
2. Order the debt enforcement extract early, so that it is recent at the time of the viewing.
3. Keep everything in a consistent order: form, identity, income, debt enforcement, certificates.
4. Write a short cover letter: who you are, who is moving in, your professional situation, the intended length of stay. A few lines are enough.
5. Be responsive: answer messages quickly, bring the application to the viewing, and restate your interest afterwards.

Finally, check every document: an incomplete form or an out-of-date document can be enough to rule out an application.

A tight market: what to know

In Geneva, Lausanne and the surrounding areas, the market is known to be tight: there are many applicants for each home. In this context, two habits help: prepare the application before you start searching, and widen the search to well-connected neighbouring communes. Students can also read our guide to student moves, which covers the constraints specific to them.

Protecting yourself from scams

Housing adverts attract fraudsters. Several signs should alert you:

• a request for money before any viewing (reservation, “administration fees”, a transfer to “secure” the flat);
• a landlord who claims to be abroad and offers to post the keys;
• a rent that is unusually low compared with similar homes;
• pressure to decide immediately, without a viewing.

Always view the property, check who the landlord or letting agency is, and never send copies of identity documents to someone whose identity you cannot confirm. If an offer seems too good to be true, steer clear.

Once accepted: lease, deposit, move-in inspection, arrival

When the letting agency accepts your application, the steps follow one another:

1. Signing the lease: read it carefully, in particular the rent, service charges, start date and notice period. Notice must be given in writing (art. 266l of the Swiss Code of Obligations, CO) and, under art. 266c CO, with three months’ notice for the date set by local custom or, failing that, for the end of a three-month lease period, unless the contract provides for longer.
2. Rental deposit: it may not exceed three months’ rent for a dwelling (art. 257e CO) and is paid into a blocked account in the tenant’s name. Our guide to the rental deposit sets out the procedure.
3. Move-in inspection (état des lieux): note every defect, however minor, and keep a signed copy.
4. Registering your arrival with the residents’ registration office (contrôle des habitants) of the new commune, within the period set by the canton. See the guide to registering with the commune.

If you leave a home 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). 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).

In French-speaking Switzerland: what changes by canton

Federal tenancy rules are the same everywhere, but several points depend on the canton or commune: customary notice dates, the forms and deadlines for registering with the residents’ registration office, and the documents required by each letting agency. Check with your commune or the canton concerned, and refer to your lease.

Depending on the location, constraints also differ: in cities, the search is more competitive and access to the home (narrow streets, parking) takes planning; in the mountains, winter access can matter; near the border, cross-border workers and people arriving from abroad must keep an eye on their residence documents. To prepare your arrival, see the pages on Geneva, Lausanne or Renens.

Doing it yourself or getting help

The rental application is put together on your own: it is a matter of collecting documents and writing. For the move itself, an individual can perfectly well organise it with friends or family for a small home. As soon as the volume is large, access is difficult or the schedule is tight, professional movers are often the sensible choice. This site passes your request on to removal companies in the region, who provide a free, no-obligation quote. You can read more about residential moving or request a quote.

Frequently asked questions