When renting a property in Switzerland, you will find that properties are described by number of rooms. Rooms are counted as living spaces, so do not include kitchens and bathrooms. Note however that Geneva has a different system which will include the kitchen, so to compare Geneva prices with other areas you will need to factor this in. Properties also are described in floor space in metres squared, and you may be able to specify this as a search criteria, but normally expect to search for your rental property by rooms. A half room is common and applies where there is additional 'living' space such as a sizeable hallway or a kitchen with dining space. Ground floor apartments are in practice commonly raised above the ground, with a basement level below, and therefore may have balconies.

Rents are higher in the cities, particularly in Zurich and Geneva. Homegate.ch offers an English language version of their property search service (however, descriptions entered by the property owner are generally not in English). As of summer 2011, the following were a typical selection of rental properties on offer in Zurich and the monthly rent payable for each:

1 room

CHF 989 -- Unfurnished apartment, area 25 m2, located some distance from centre (postal district 8047)
CHF 1,340 -- Unfurnished apartment, area 25 m2, centrally located (postal district 8001)
CHF 1,745 -- Furnished apartment, area 22 m2, centrally located (postal district 8001)
CHF 1,958 -- Unfurnished apartment with balcony, area 30 m2, located some distance from centre (postal district 8050)
CHF 2,700 -- Furnished quality apartment with sizable terrace, area 34 m2, centrally located (postal district 8001)

2 rooms

CHF 1,367 -- Unfurnished ground floor apartment with balcony, area 57 m2, located some distance from centre (postal district 8047)
CHF 1,470 -- Unfurnished ground floor apartment with balcony, area 45 m2, located some distance from centre (postal district 8050)
CHF 1,995 -- Unfurnished 5th floor apartment, area 71 m2, located close to centre (postal district 8003)
CHF 2,350 -- Modern unfurnished apartment, area 55 m2, located close to centre (postal district 8004)
CHF 2,490 -- Modern unfurnished 2nd floor apartment, area 55 m2, centrally located (postal district 8001)

3 rooms

CHF 1,900 -- Unfurnished ground floor of 2-apartment house with patio, garage and cellar, area 62 m2, located some distance from centre (postal district 8050)
CHF 1,995 -- Modern furnished ground floor apartment with balconies, area 70 m2, located some distance from centre (postal district 8047)
CHF 2,043 -- Unfurnished 2nd floor apartment with balcony, area 75 m2, located close to centre (postal district 8006)
CHF 2,860 -- Unfurnished 1st floor apartment with balcony, area 85 m2, located close to centre (postal district 8002)
CHF 4,330 -- Unfurnished 1st floor apartment, area 76 m2, centrally located (postal district 8001)

4 rooms

CHF 1,680 -- Unfurnished 1st floor apartment with balcony, 65 m2, located some distance from centre (postal district 8050)
CHF 1,950 -- Unfurnished 2nd floor apartment with new bathroom and kitchen, 71 m2, located some distance from centre (postal district 8047)
CHF 2,650 -- Unfurnished 1st floor apartment with balconies, 85 m2, located close to main station (postal district 8006)
CHF 3,480 -- Unfurnished 2nd floor apartment with balcony providing rooftop view, 95 m2, centrally located (postal district 8001)

Furnished accommodation is not often available and will attract higher rents. Most expats opt for unfurnished accommodation and start with buying only inexpensive essential furniture. As an alternative, it is also possible to rent out furniture. A furnished flat or house will generally include a fridge, freezer, microwave, dishwasher, oven, kettle, pots and pans, cutlery and crockery, plus a bed in each bedroom, a wardrobe, a sofa, dining table and chairs, and light fixtures. There may be audio-visual equipment, a desk and chair, soft furnishings, and even houseplants. You will be responsible for ensuring furnishings are not damaged during your tenancy. Unfurnished accommodation normally has a fridge and cooker and possibly a dishwasher, but frequently does not have light fixtures or lightbulbs. Washing machines tend to be located in a shared laundry room.

Demand for accommodation is high, particularly in cities, so expect to do a lot of viewings and to act quickly if you find somewhere you like. Leases are usually signed for one-year, and are renewed automatically. You are required to provide the landlord with three months notice if you wish to leave the accommodation, but are usually released from the contract if you find another suitable tenant before the lease period is over. If you are on a short-term contract, you can request that a breaking clause be included in the lease to allow you to stay for less than a year. Switzerland has a strong system of tenants' rights, and the landlord cannot ask you to leave unless you do not pay the rent.

On signing the rental agreement you will be required to pay a security deposit, usually equivalent to three months rent, into a special trust account. This will either be held in your own name or, if using a rental agent, can be placed in a holding account managed by your agency. This cannot be accessed until you leave the apartment, and must in all cases be refunded within a year of your leaving, if the landlord has no valid claim to make against it. Your first month's rent is also paid upfront.

The rental agency will check the accommodation thoroughly when you move in and out, and on leaving you will be charged for any minor flaw or damage, with no allowance made for wear and tear. Your rental agreement is likely to stipulate that you must thoroughly clean the accommodation, and it is common to hire a professional cleaning company to take care of this. If you fail to clean the accommodation, the cost of a professional cleaning service will be deducted from your security deposit. Take note of any special instructions in the contract, such as a requirement to service kitchen appliances.

Useful Resources

homegate.ch
Online Swiss accommodation search
http://www.homegate.ch/

World Guides: Zurich
A introduction to the 12 principal districts (Kreis) of the city of Zurich
http://www.zurich.world-guides.com/zurich_districts.html

Maps of Zurich
An online collection of Zurich maps including postcodes and regions
http://www.ini.uzh.ch/~dylan/zurich-maps/

Pisleur Furniture Rental
http://www.expat-furniture.ch/
Furniture rental service based in Zurich but serving all of Switzerland
Birkenstrasse 29, 8134 Adliswil (Zürich), Switzerland
Tel: +41 (0) 43 377 96 43
Email: info@event-furniture.ch