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Living / Residence

In Switzerland, two thirds of the population live in a rented apartment. The law and the tenancy agreement regulate the rental conditions for. Living in Switzerland is expensive and it is important to either know your rights or be a member of the tenants‘ association. Read the information brochure „Living in Switzerland“.

Even finding an apartment is not easy. You often have to give a lot of personal information on the application form (e.g., residence status, employer, salary) and you have to prove that you are not in debt with a statement from the debt collection register (Betreibungsregister-Auszug). You have to order this from the canton, e.g., by email (in Basel-Stadt to: auszug.bka(a)bs.ch, giving your name, date of birth and address) or you can go in person (Aeschenvorschadt 56). The cost is 17 francs plus postage. It is often also compulsory to take out insurance against damage caused by tenants (tenant’s liability insurance). As a member of the tenants‘ association, you get a very good insurance policy (10 francs per year, no excess).

Rent deposit (Mietzinsdepot): The landlord may ask you to pay a maximum of three rents in advance as a security. But you can also sign a contract with the Edith Maryon Foundation in Basel instead for a guaranteed rent deposit: If you have very little money, this foundation applies for the costs (200 francs administration fee plus 15 per cent of the deposit amount) to be covered by another foundation. Go directly to the foundation with your tenancy agreement, documents about your salary and an extract from the debt collection register: Monday-Friday 9-12 h and 14-16 h, Gerbergasse 30 in Basel.

List of defects (Mängelliste): Before you move into the flat, you carry out the handover when the landlord and tenant check the condition of the flat together and record any damage in a list of defects (see form). The list of defects is important, otherwise you may be held responsible for old damage when you move out.

Please note that you often have to pay additional costs (Nebenkosten; e.g., heating, hot water, cable TV) on top of the rent.

Information material

Links

 

«Ich habe eine Freundin, die ist wie eine Schwester. Beide haben wir gesucht, jede Woche. Zuerst im Internet, dann mussten wir das Formular ausfüllen und abschicken. Manchmal erhielt ich Antwort, manchmal nicht. Nach zehn Monaten war es so weit: Die Wohnung erhielt ich zur gleichen Zeit wie die Aufenthaltsbewilligung. Das war wie eine zweite Bewilligung!»

Maryam

 

«Ich habe eine Freundin, die ist wie eine Schwester. Beide haben wir gesucht, jede Woche. Zuerst im Internet, dann mussten wir das Formular ausfüllen und abschicken. Manchmal erhielt ich Antwort, manchmal nicht. Nach zehn Monaten war es so weit: Die Wohnung erhielt ich zur gleichen Zeit wie die Aufenthaltsbewilligung. Das war wie eine zweite Bewilligung!»

Maryam