Every property is thoroughly inspected and verified to ensure high standards of comfort and legal compliance.
We streamline the Swiss rental dossier process to increase your chances of securing your preferred home.
Dedicated guidance from initial viewings and lease signing to key handover and move-in inspection.
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Finalize the lease agreement, complete the inventory check, and receive your keys.
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In Geneva an application is won or lost on the file you hand in. Expect to provide a copy of your passport or ID card and your residence permit, your last three payslips or, if you are self-employed, your latest tax assessment, an extract from the debt collection register (extrait du registre des poursuites) less than three months old, proof of third-party liability insurance and the agency's completed application form. References from a previous landlord help, and as a rule the rent should not exceed a third of your gross income. We review your dossier before it is submitted so nothing is missing.
Swiss law caps the deposit on a residential lease at three months' net rent, and Geneva landlords generally ask for the full amount. It is paid into a blocked account opened in your name: the money stays yours, earns interest and can only be released with your written agreement or a court decision. Rent guarantee insurance is an alternative that frees up your capital in exchange for a non-refundable annual premium, though not every landlord accepts it. The deposit is returned after the exit inventory, less any damage beyond normal wear and tear.
Most Geneva leases are signed for an initial term of one year and then renew from year to year unless notice is given. Notice on an apartment is three months at the least and has to fall on a contractual due date — in Geneva usually 31 March, 30 June or 30 September. If you need to leave earlier, Swiss law lets you propose a solvent replacement tenant willing to take over the lease on the same terms, which releases you from your obligations. Furnished and short-term lettings follow different rules; we tell you which ones apply before you sign.
Yes. A permit is not a legal condition for signing a lease, but a Geneva landlord will want proof that you can live and earn here. While your B or L permit is still being processed, a signed employment contract, your registration with the commune and recent proof of income normally do the job. If you cannot yet produce a Swiss debt collection extract, the equivalent from your previous country, a guarantor based in Switzerland or a rent guarantee are usually accepted. Staff of international organisations and diplomatic missions present their carte de légitimation. We assemble the file so that it reads as complete to a local landlord.
Usually not. Geneva listings quote a net rent to which charges are added, so always check which figure is advertised. Charges are a monthly provision covering heating, hot water, the electricity of shared areas, the lift, the caretaker and, depending on the lease, cold water and the upkeep of common parts. They are reconciled once a year against actual costs, so you either receive a refund or settle the difference. Your own electricity (SIG), your internet connection and the Serafe radio and TV fee are billed separately and never form part of the rent. Ask to see the latest statement of charges before signing.
