8 Ways to Up Your Chances of Being Approved for a Home Rental in Switzerland

Finding a decent place to live in one of the world’s most competitive home rental markets is a challenge shared by newcomers and locals alike. Here moneyland.ch lists 8 tips to max out your chances of securing a good rental home in Switzerland.

1. Clean up your credit history

Swiss landlords and property managers generally expect you to provide an up-to-date debt collection register statement. Having even one negative entry in your credit record will generally exclude you from the running. Take time to get and review your statement well ahead of your house-hunting so that you have time to clear up any outstanding debt collection cases. Having debt collection claims removed from your debt register history can be a long process. In the worst case, negative entries may remain in your statement for five years from the time they are added.

2. Wander off the beaten path

Major online real estate portals are a good first stop, but because most other would-be tenants are using the same tools, you can expect a lot of competition.

Try broadening your approach by checking classified websites as well. Local newspapers covering the area in which you want to live may well have local classifieds which you may not find online (some have an online presence as well).

Bulletin boards at local shopping centers, train or bus stations and town halls are also worth checking out. Additionally, many municipalities list homes for rent on their website or make lists available at town halls. Some Swiss landlords and realtors still place “for rent” signs on properties themselves, and these are worth keeping an eye out for.

While “old-style” house hunting requires more effort and travel, it may be worth it if you find it difficult to compete for the rental homes listed on the most popular web portals.

3. Consider offering bank statements

Although landlords can never obligate you to present bank statements, you have every right to provide these willingly for extra leverage. Proving that you are financially healthy can give you leverage over other applicants.

4. Prepare a classy application

If you are new to Switzerland, the idea of having to sell yourself to a landlord might seem foreign to you. But unless you are applying for a home in a very rural area, you should understand that you are probably just one of many applicants. Preparing an attractive “résumé” can help you stand out from the crowd.

As well as a (nice) picture of yourself, you will want to state clearly why you believe that you are the right tenant for the home in question, and what you can bring to the community. If you do not own pets, smoke, listen to loud music or play instruments, these “virtues” are worth mentioning. Emphasize your ability to live harmoniously with neighbors (assuming this is the case) and your tendency towards a quiet home life. If you are not versed in the local language of the area in which you are looking for housing, consider engaging the help of a friend or even a professional translator.

5. Come to the viewing prepared

In Switzerland, you typically pick up application forms in person when you attend a viewing. In some cases you can complete and turn in applications directly at viewings as well.

Taking all the necessary documents so that you can submit your application right at the viewing will give you a head start on other applicants. Documents to bring include:

• Your résumé

• A recent debt collection register report (ideally not more than one month old)

• Bank statements for the past 6 months (if you are willing to share them).

• If you are a foreign resident or if you have only recently arrived in Switzerland, a copy of your residence permit can help erase doubts as to your ability to maintain a long-term rental contract in Switzerland.

6. Look out for tenant succession or home exchange offers

Many renters actively seek out new prospective renters who are willing to take over their rental contracts so that they do not have to wait out the notice period. Because both the outgoing tenants and the landlords are interested in finding a successive tenant (German: Nachmieter) as quickly as possible, your chances of being approved are higher than average.

There are a number of Swiss online platforms dedicated to succession offers, and major real estate portals often list such offers as well. Community billboards, social media and word-of-mouth are other good sources.

Home exchanges are based on the same concept, but only work if you have a rental home which you want to move out of as well. For example, if you want a larger home, you can list your house or apartment on a home exchange website. If someone else is looking for a smaller apartment, you can simply swap rental homes (assuming the landlords agree to the new tenants).

7. Consider temporary rentals

If you do not expect to remain in the same location permanently, temporary rentals could provide an affordable and easy-to-get solution. Temporary rentals normally result when a major renovation or demolition will occur within a relatively short amount of time. Most long-term renters move out long before the deadline, leaving gaps of anywhere from several months to several years.

Competition for these rentals is low, and rents are often well below the market norm. This arrangement can work very well if you do not mind moving homes regularly or as a stop-gap solution while you look for a long-term home.

8. Consider subleasing

Many renters sublet their rental homes ahead of a temporary move. Because renters usually sublease their rental home because they plan to return to it after a temporary move, they have a lot of incentive to find a good subtenant. The renter is the one who can choose to take you on as a subtenant, so in some cases you may be able to rent a home which you would not otherwise have been approved for. This is a good solution for finding short- to mid-term rentals, although subleases can carry on almost indefinitely in some cases.

Classifieds papers and websites are a good first stop for sublease deals. Social media, online forums and word of mouth are other good places to hook up with subletters.

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