Student Move in French-Speaking Switzerland: Guide

A student move in French-speaking Switzerland usually involves a small volume: a few boxes, some clothes, a spare desk. It still needs preparing like a full move: a tenancy agreement to read closely, administrative notifications to make and a home to hand back clean. This guide gives you the order of the steps and the points that help you avoid unpleasant surprises.

Where do students move to in French-speaking Switzerland?

The region has several university and higher-education hubs:

• Lausanne: the University and EPFL, along with the neighbouring communes of western Lausanne, including Ecublens;
• Geneva: the University and the HES;
• Neuchâtel and Fribourg (a bilingual university);
• HES-SO campuses in several towns, such as Sion, Yverdon or Delémont.

Typical accommodation includes a room in a shared flat, a studio, a student residence and a room in a host’s home. Many are furnished, which reduces what you have to carry. Some tenancies are limited to the academic year: check the duration and the extension conditions before signing.

Choosing how to transport your belongings

The right option depends on the volume, the distance and access at both homes. Here are the common options:

If you choose a van, our guide on moving by yourself with a hired van covers preparation, loading and points to watch. For a move with a few people, a clear split of tasks beats scattered goodwill: one person loads, one drives, one handles the keys and the move-out inspection (état des lieux).

The paperwork not to forget

Transport is only one part of the move. In order, here is what to deal with.

1. The tenancy agreement and terminating your old home. Notice must be given in writing (art. 266l of the Swiss Code of Obligations, CO). The statutory notice period is three months for the date set by local custom or, failing that, for the end of a three-month tenancy quarter (art. 266c CO), unless the contract provides for longer. Read your contract: customary dates vary by canton and commune. 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).
2. A replacement tenant if you leave too early. If you leave the home without respecting the notice period or date, you can be released by putting forward a solvent replacement tenant willing to take over the lease on the same terms (art. 264 CO). This is a useful solution when the academic year ends earlier than planned.
3. The rental deposit. It cannot exceed three months’ rent for a home (art. 257e CO) and it is paid into a blocked account in the tenant’s name. For the practical details, see our guide on the rental deposit.
4. Registering with the residents’ registration office (contrôle des habitants). Every move must be reported: departure from the old commune, arrival in the new one, within the time limit set by the canton. In many communes, you can register online through eMoving (eUmzugCH). A weekly stay may also be concerned, depending on the canton’s rules.
5. Health insurance. Tell your insurer your new address and check what your new place of residence changes.
6. Residence permit for international students. If you are coming from abroad, ask the canton before you leave about the procedures linked to your study stay.

Handing back the room or studio successfully

A careful move-out inspection (état des lieux) protects your rental deposit. On moving in as on moving out, take the time to go round every room.

• Note every existing defect on arrival, with dated photos.
• Keep a copy of the signed inspection report.
• On leaving, empty the room completely, including cupboards, the cellar and the balcony.
• Clean thoroughly: floors, windows, appliances, bathroom.
• Return all keys, including those for the letterbox and the cellar.

If you are short of time, end-of-lease cleaning by professionals can avoid a dispute at handover. Always ask your landlord or letting agency (régie) what is expected: requirements vary from one home to another.

What to do with your belongings over the summer

Many students leave their room at the end of the academic year to return to it in the autumn, or to change. You then have three solutions:

• leave your belongings with your parents or a relative;
• keep the home, if the lease allows it and the rent stays reasonable for you;
• use storage for the length of the break.

Storage is handy when you change town or home between two years. Compare the conditions: duration, access, insurance, termination terms.

In French-speaking Switzerland: what changes by location

Federal rules are the same everywhere, but several points are settled at canton or commune level:

• the notification deadline at the residents’ registration office and how to register;
• the customary notice dates by commune, to be checked in your lease;
• the permit to use the public highway for a lorry, a furniture lift or a skip: it may be requested from the commune or the police, a few days or weeks in advance;
• the residence rules for international students, which fall under the canton.

In university towns, streets are often narrow, parking spaces are scarce and there are many floors without a lift: parking the vehicle becomes the first question to settle. The start of the academic year and the end of the academic year are busy, as many people move at the same time; book a van or help in advance. In the mountains or near the border, journeys are longer and more weather-sensitive; allow some margin.

To get your bearings, see the pages on Lausanne and Fribourg, two university towns where access and parking call for forward planning.

Doing it yourself or getting help

For a room or a small studio, a student can very well move with friends and a van: packing boxes, dismantling a single bed and loading a vehicle are within reach of most people. It takes a little organisation and available time.

Professional movers are more appropriate when time is short, when there are several floors without a lift, heavy or fragile furniture, or a long distance. On this site, you describe your move; your request is passed to removal companies in the region, who provide a free, no-obligation quote. To learn more about this type of service, see residential moving. You can also request a quote directly.

Frequently asked questions