Renting & housing · 12 guides
How to win a viewing, what your lease allows and how to get the deposit back. Then a home-search consultant, if you want one.
Free for you — agencies pay for introductions, not for ranking.
Only 0.93% of Swiss homes stood empty on 1 June 2026, 0.31% in the canton of Geneva, so flats go to complete, fast applications. Once you sign, the law is on your side: the deposit is capped at three months’ rent, held in your name, and disputes start at a free conciliation office.
Before you sign, read the viewing and dossier guides. After you move in, the tenant-rights and deposit guides cover rent increases, deductions and deadlines. A home-search consultant does the viewings with you, or for you.
| Fact | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Rental deposit | At most 3 months’ rent, in a blocked account in your name | Fedlex, as of 1 Jan 2026 |
| If the landlord makes no claim | You can ask the bank for the deposit one year after the lease ends | Deposit guide, as of 23 Jun 2026 |
| Contest a rent increase or a termination | Within 30 days, at the free conciliation office | Tenant rights guide, as of 13 May 2026 |
| Empty homes, 1 June 2026 | 0.93% nationally; 0.52% in the canton of Zurich, 0.31% in Geneva | Federal Statistical Office, as of 1 Jun 2026 |
| Competition at viewings | 30 or more applicants per flat are common in the big cities | Viewings guide, as of 16 Jun 2026 |
| Agencies on ReloFinder that do home search | 48 | ReloFinder directory, as of 24 Sep 2026 |
Each figure links to its source: an official page, a published price list, a guide or the ReloFinder directory.
Start with the first one. Most open with the short answer, and each shows when it was last updated.
When a rent increase is void, how to ask for a reduction, and the 30-day deadlines to act.
ReadGetting your deposit back: what landlords may deduct, the one-year rule and the free conciliation office.
ReadHow to win a viewing against 30 others: a complete dossier, the debt-register extract and speed.
ReadWhat a local move costs, the surcharges to ask about, and how to compare removal firms.
ReadBlocked account or deposit insurance: which costs less, and when each one makes sense.
ReadFive shifts from June 2026: the population vote, vacancy, quotas and wages.
ReadBuying instead of renting: prices, mortgage rates and the regional gaps expat buyers face.
ReadWhat a 1% vacancy rate means before you sign: applications, budget and a realistic timeline.
ReadVacancy by city in 2026, what changed this quarter and what it means for your search.
ReadAgency or platform: how professional home hunters reach flats that never get listed.
ReadWhat off-market really means in Zurich and Zug, and realistic ways to reach those flats.
ReadLetting landlords come to you: how tenant profiles work next to listings and agencies.
ReadThe top 3 for home search by our ranking: verified Google reviews, weighted by how many there are, captured 24 September 2026. No agency can pay to rank.
Zurich · EN DE FR
Clients mention 8 consultants by name
“From day one, Corinne provided exceptional service during our recent relocation. She was friendly, organized, and so helpful when it came to paperwork and registration. Corrine communicates…”
Riehen · DE EN FR IT ES
Clients mention 2 consultants by name
“Recently relocated to Basel from US and very lucky to be guided through the integration process by Claudia. So many things managed perfectly including securing a wonderful apartment…”
Zürich · EN DE
Clients mention 2 consultants by name
“I couldn’t recommend Silver Nest Relocation more than enough to anyone searching for an apartment in Zürich’s competitive housing market. From the very beginning, Caroline was a huge help…”
Go further: Home-search agencies · Agencies in Zurich · Agencies in Geneva
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