Moving: the best tips for apartment hunting

Rent now accounts for a large share of monthly fixed costs for many people. To ensure you still have enough money to live on after paying the rent, you should define a maximum limit for yourself. As a rule of thumb, the maximum rent should not exceed 30% of your net income. So if you earn CHF 2,400 per month, you should not spend more than CHF 800 on your rent including utility costs.

You want to feel comfortable in your new apartment. And that means different things to different people. Think in advance about which criteria your apartment must meet. This way, you do not have to attend endless viewings only to conclude that the apartment is not right for you.

The criteria can relate to the fixtures and fittings, but also to the location or infrastructure. While for one person a bathtub is an absolute must, for another it is the balcony. Someone else does not want to walk more than five minutes to the nearest bus stop. Yet another person absolutely wants to live on the ground floor. Sometimes it takes a while for your personal criteria to take shape, but they make the search for a new apartment much easier.

Many apartments are still allocated through personal contacts. So be open about the fact that you are looking for a new apartment – among friends, acquaintances and at work. Sometimes the perfect opportunity arises by chance and you can avoid attending dozens of viewings. Word-of-mouth remains a reliable source for finding a new apartment.

Think of the viewing as a job interview where you want to convince the landlord of your qualities. This means arriving on time with a well-groomed appearance. Read the apartment listing carefully once more beforehand and give the landlord the impression that you have already thoroughly informed yourself about the apartment. If you are already sure at the viewing that the apartment is suitable, let the landlord know of your interest.

Every landlord wants a solvent tenant. This also includes the tenant’s ability to pay the rental deposit. Here you can learn everything about the costs of moving in Switzerland. If, for example, your parents are covering the deposit, present the landlord with a guarantee from your parents. If you opt for rental deposit insurance, you can obtain a pre-confirmation from your insurance provider and thus present yourself in a favourable light.

There are landlords who want to know everything and ask potential candidates many questions. Landlords are allowed to ask questions, but only to a certain extent.

What is not permissible, however, is if landlords ask about your state of health or chronic illnesses. If you suffer from a chronic illness, you are allowed to be evasive when the landlord asks about your health. Questions about nationality, religion, marital status and place of origin are likewise impermissible. The landlord may not ask about your exact nationality, but they may ask whether you are Swiss or non-Swiss. For non-Swiss nationals, questions about the residence permit are then permissible.