How to Actually Get an Apartment in Switzerland

To rent an apartment in Switzerland, prepare a dossier with three recent payslips, employer letter, residence permit, ID, and a debt collection extract (Betreibungsauszug). Apply the same day a listing goes live. Deposit is 2 to 3 months' rent in a blocked account. Nebenkosten (utilities and building costs) are 150 to 300 CHF/month on top of net rent.

In this article

  • Understand the market before you apply
  • Build the dossier before you need it
  • Where to search
  • The viewing
  • The deposit
  • Nebenkosten and the total cost of rent
  • Why you keep getting rejected