How can I find an affordable apartment?

What does “affordable apartment” mean?

Whether an apartment is affordable does not depend solely on the advertised rent. An apartment may have a low net rent but still place a considerable burden on the household budget because of high service charges, an expensive parking space or a long commute.

Conversely, a slightly more expensive apartment may be more affordable overall if it offers a shorter commute, good public transport, lower heating costs or better infrastructure.

Do not compare apartments solely on the basis of the net rent. Consider the entire monthly cost resulting from the choice of apartment and location.

1. Set a realistic housing budget

Before beginning the apartment search, define how much you can sustainably spend on housing each month. The budget should remain manageable even when unexpected expenses arise or the household income temporarily decreases.

Net rent:                       CHF [amount]
Service charges:                CHF [amount]
Electricity and internet:       CHF [amount]
Parking or additional transport: CHF [amount]
Other housing-related costs:    CHF [amount]
------------------------------------------------
Total monthly housing costs:    CHF [amount]

2. Research the property market and compare offers

Familiarise yourself with the usual rents in your preferred region. Use current rental apartment listings to compare apartments with a similar number of rooms, floor area, location and standard.

Compare properties that are genuinely similar. An unrenovated older apartment without a lift cannot be directly compared with a new-build apartment featuring controlled ventilation, a private washing machine and an underground parking space.

These characteristics influence the rent

• Municipality and neighbourhood
• Distance from the centre and public transport
• Number of rooms and floor area
• Year of construction and renovation standard
• Lift, balcony, view and outdoor areas
• Private washing machine or shared laundry facilities
• Parking space or underground garage
• Energy consumption and heating system
• Fixed term and special contractual conditions

A very low rent may be explained by a basic standard, a less desirable location or a fixed-term tenancy. Unusually affordable offers without a clear reason should be examined particularly carefully.

3. Consider alternative locations and peripheral areas

Apartments in popular city centres and well-known neighbourhoods are often particularly competitive. Expand your apartment search to peripheral neighbourhoods, neighbouring municipalities and locations along good train, tram or bus routes.

The distance in kilometres is not the only decisive factor. A more distant municipality with a direct train connection may be less expensive and easier to reach than a city neighbourhood requiring several changes.

4. Make the search criteria more flexible

The narrower the search criteria, the fewer suitable listings will be shown. Consider which characteristics allow for a reasonable compromise.

Possible compromises include:

• an upper floor without a lift, provided that this is personally manageable,
• shared laundry facilities instead of a private washing machine,
• no balcony where a park or courtyard is nearby,
• an older bathroom or kitchen in good condition,
• a smaller floor area with a practical floor plan,
• a different neighbourhood with comparable infrastructure.

5. Set up search alerts and respond quickly

Affordable apartments often receive a particularly large number of enquiries. A rental apartment search alert informs you about new matching listings without requiring you to repeat the search manually.

Configure the search alert sensibly

• include several locations or a sufficiently large radius,
• set the maximum rent with a small amount of flexibility,
• avoid unnecessarily narrow room-number requirements,
• consider several suitable property types,
• check notifications regularly,
• prepare the application documents before the first viewing.

When a suitable offer appears, contact the advertiser quickly. A fast enquiry does not replace careful checking. Read the complete listing and ask specific questions instead of sending only a generic standard message.

Is there a particularly affordable time to search?

There is no reliable general rule that apartments are offered at lower rents during a particular season or at the end of the month. The number of listings may vary depending on the region and official termination dates, but this does not automatically reduce the rent.

More important than the season are:

• a continuously active search alert,
• flexibility regarding the move-in date,
• being easy to contact,
• a prepared application dossier,
• a willingness to consider different regions.

6. Use your personal network and direct contact

Inform friends, family members, colleagues, employers and people from clubs or your neighbourhood about your apartment search. Vacant apartments are sometimes first shared within a personal network or among existing tenants.

A brief and specific search description is helpful:

Wanted: 2.5- to 3.5-room apartment
Region: [locations or radius]
Maximum gross rent: CHF [amount]
Move-in date: from [date] or flexible
Household: [number of people]
Contact: [telephone or email]

Direct contact with private landlords, property managers or housing cooperatives may also be useful. It does not automatically result in a lower rent, but it may help you learn about planned rentals or waiting lists at an early stage.

Do not promise renovation work or other services that have not been clearly agreed. Alterations to the apartment and any rent arrangements should be recorded in writing before the tenancy begins.

7. Consider housing cooperatives and social housing offers

Housing cooperatives and other non-profit housing providers often rent apartments according to the principle of cost rent. This may result in rents that remain below comparable market rents over the long term.

However, a housing cooperative apartment is not automatically available immediately. Depending on the organisation, special conditions may apply:

• membership of the cooperative,
• purchase of cooperative shares,
• waiting lists or application periods,
• occupancy requirements based on apartment size,
• income or asset limits,
• a connection with a particular municipality or region,
• willingness to participate in the cooperative.

Municipal and subsidised apartments

Some cities and municipalities have their own apartments, housing foundations, rent subsidies or agreements with non-profit housing providers. Switzerland does not have one uniform allocation system for these offers.

Check the following directly:

• the website of your municipality or city,
• municipal property management departments,
• housing foundations and non-profit housing providers,
• regional housing cooperatives,
• cantonal or municipal advice services,
• possible rent subsidies or housing assistance.

8. Prepare a complete application dossier

A low rent often results in a large number of applications. A complete and clearly organised dossier makes it easier for the property manager to assess the application and avoids unnecessary questions.

Typical application documents

Anyone who has lived in different debt enforcement districts during recent years may need several extracts to provide a complete overview.

Landlords may not request an unlimited amount of private information. Personal data must be objectively necessary and proportionate for selecting suitable tenants and preparing the tenancy agreement.

Dear Ms/Mr [name],

Thank you for showing us the apartment at [address].

The apartment is very suitable for our current situation because
of its location, size and rent. We are interested in a long-term
tenancy and have attached the completed application form and all
requested documents.

We would be able to move in from [date]. Please feel free to
contact us if you have any questions.

Kind regards,

[Name]
[Telephone number]
[Email address]

9. Check the tenancy agreement, service charges and rental deposit

An affordable listing is only genuinely affordable if the information in the tenancy agreement corresponds with the advertisement. Check all costs before signing.

Service charges

Service charges only have to be paid if they have been specifically agreed with the landlord. The tenancy agreement should clearly list which services are payable in addition to the net rent.

In particular, check:

• which items are included,
• whether advance payments or a fixed amount have been agreed,
• whether electricity is paid separately,
• whether a parking space must be rented together with the apartment,
• whether additional fees or separate agreements exist.

Rental deposit

For residential property, a rental deposit provided in cash or securities may not exceed three months’ rent. Where the security is provided in cash, it must generally be deposited in a bank account held in the tenant’s name.

Further contractual points

• Start of the tenancy and key handover
• Notice periods and termination dates
• Minimum tenancy period or fixed term
• House rules and quiet hours
• Rules concerning pets
• Included cellar, attic or outdoor areas
• Planned construction or renovation work

10. Identify fraudulent or unreliable offers

An unusually low rent may be a warning sign, particularly where the advertiser creates time pressure or requests an advance payment.

Check the address, advertiser, agreement and payment method. Do not allow yourself to be pressured into making an immediate payment and only submit sensitive documents once the offer and recipient can be verified.

Step by step to an affordable apartment

1. Define your personal maximum for the complete housing costs.
2. Compare usual rents in the target region.
3. Include peripheral neighbourhoods, neighbouring municipalities and regional centres.
4. Separate essential requirements from optional preferences.
5. Set up search alerts with sufficiently broad criteria.
6. Inform friends, family, employers and your personal network.
7. Check housing cooperatives, municipalities and non-profit housing providers.
8. Prepare the application form, debt enforcement register extract and proof of income.
9. Respond quickly and specifically to suitable listings.
10. View and compare the apartment, surroundings and complete costs.
11. Check the tenancy agreement, service charges, deposit and termination conditions.
12. Carefully verify the advertiser and payment method for unusually affordable offers.

Practical examples

Checklist: Finding an affordable apartment

Frequently asked questions about affordable apartments