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Convenient and individual standard of furnishing
The Swiss real-estate market has a broad range of
apartments and houses for rent and for sale. Nearly two-thirds
of the Swiss population lives in rented accommodations. As a
result, the standards of furnishing are exceptionally high, with
above-average levels of convenience and individuality. Rental
accommodations are usually unfurnished, but always have a
completely furnished kitchen as well as radio, TV and phone
hookups. Depending on the standard of furnishing, a washer and
dryer will be provided in the apartment itself or in a shared
laundry room in the building. The size of the apartment (number
of rooms) does not include kitchen and bathrooms/WC, a dining
corner or large entry area is considered to be half a room.
Apartments are thoroughly cleaned before they are handed over.
 Homegate
– Swiss Real Estate Platform
Immoclick
– Swiss Real Estate Platform
ImmoMarktSchweiz
– Swiss Real Estate Platform
ImmoScout24
– Swiss Real Estate Platform
ImmoStreet
– Swiss Real Estate Platform
NZZ
domizil – Real Estate Platform of «Neue
Zürcher Zeitung»
Tages-Anzeiger
– Leading Daily Newspaper for Real Estate Advertisements
Swiss
Tenant Association
Residential space in all price ranges
The Swiss are a nation of renters. 65% of the
resident population live for rent, and not just in the lower and
middle income groups. Due to the scarcity of land and the
excellent quality of buildings, housing in Switzerland is rather
expensive when compared with neighboring countries. Rental and
purchase prices depend on the object’s location and standard of
furnishing and vary strongly, especially between urban and rural
areas. A basic rule of thumb: the lower the local taxes
(municipal tax rate) – the higher the real-estate prices.
Average earners spend between a quarter and a third of their
income on rent.
Plots of land for building are scarce and highly sought-after in
Switzerland, and the price of land is accordingly high, often
accounting for one-third or more of the total price of a
property. Condominium apartments have become established as an
excellent alternative to renting, especially for high-income
singles, young couples and double-income families, or older
people, whose children have left home and who want to give up
their single-family residence.
Cost
Benefit: Average Apartment Rent in the Greater Zurich Area
Standardized rental contracts
The rental contracts in Switzerland are usually
standardized and set out the rent, utilities, amount of security
deposit, the beginning of the rental period as well as notice
periods and deadlines. The landlord may demand a security
deposit of no more than three monthly rents, which he must
deposit in a bank account in the tenant’s name and return to the
tenant, including interest, when the rental relationship ends.
The rental terms for garage and parking spaces are usually
covered in a separate agreement. Pets require the landlord’s
written consent. Utilities are the actual costs incurred for
heating, water, common-area electricity and janitorial and are
generally 10% of the monthly rent. They
are usually paid in advance as a monthly lump sum with the rent,
settled annually. The tenant is either reimbursed or charged for
the difference between the advance payments and the actual
costs. Individual electricity consumption is billed directly to
the tenant by the local utilities company.
Foreigners’ right to buy real estate
| a) |
EU citizens whose primary place of
residence
and work is in Switzerland |
EU citizens are treated as Swiss citizens when it
comes to the right to buy real estate, provided both of two
requirements are met: The EU citizen must have his/her primary
residence in Switzerland and be living in Switzerland based on
the Free Movement of Labor Act (which allows foreigners to work
in Switzerland). If these two requirements are met, s/he can buy
properties and real estate freely, not only as a primary
residence but also as a second home, vacation home or for
investment purposes.
| b) |
Non-EU citizens whose primary place
of residence
and work is in Switzerland |
No special permit is required for non-EU citizens
with their primary residence in Switzerland to buy residential
property for their personal use. However, the acquisition of
second and vacation homes and of building land is subject to
authorization.
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