01
3–5working daysSuggested time before a first follow-upUrbanHome · Rent · Switzerland
No reply to your rental application? What to do in Switzerland
Applied for an apartment in Switzerland but heard nothing from the landlord or property manager? Find out when a polite follow-up makes sense, what to write and what Swiss rules say about rejections and personal data. With ready-to-copy emails, a practical timeline and a checklist to keep your home search moving.
Author: Nikita von Niederhäuser, UrbanHomeUpdated: 2 November 2026 · Reading time: about 13 minutes
02
1further reminderAvoid contacting the manager daily03
30daysUsual time limit for a separate data-access request04
14FAQDirect answers on waiting times, follow-ups, rejection, documents and Swiss data protection.Direct answer
Silence does not always mean rejection.
Selection times vary with the agency and number of applicants. Distinguish an ongoing decision process from a failed submission or an actual rejection.
UrbanHome · 2026
01
No fixed reply deadline
Swiss law does not generally require a private landlord to decide on every ordinary rental application in three, five or ten days.
02
Follow the published timeline
A date announced by the agency matters more than a generic rule of thumb. Allow reasonable time until that date.
03
One clear message
A polite note mentioning the property, viewing date and continued interest is more useful than repeated calls or pressure.
Practical timeline
When should you follow up on a rental application?
These steps are practical suggestions, not legally prescribed waiting periods. Any published deadline or portal instructions take priority.
01
On submission day
Check delivery
Confirm the portal status, acknowledgement email, recipient address and whether all requested documents were actually received.
02
After 3–5 working days
Send a polite follow-up
If no decision timeframe was given, ask once whether the application arrived and when a decision is expected.
03
Another 5–7 days later
One final reminder
If your first follow-up remains unanswered, send one more short message. Wait longer where the agency gave a later decision date.
04
While waiting
Keep searching
Do not assume the apartment is reserved. Review alternative listings and do not terminate your existing lease based only on an informal possibility.
Why no answer?
Six possible reasons your application has received no reply
Without a message from the manager you cannot know why. These are possibilities, not findings about your file.
01
Many applications
Popular apartments can attract a large number of interested households.
02
Deadline still open
Some landlords review applications only after the advertised closing date.
03
Missing documents
A form, detail or attachment may not have been submitted completely.
04
Review in progress
The landlord may be assessing move-in dates, affordability or references.
05
Another applicant preferred
The preferred household may be contacted before other applicants.
06
Technical issue
Portal failures, spam filters or incorrect email addresses may disrupt delivery.
Ready-to-copy templates
Follow up on an apartment application: two email templates
Replace the placeholders and include only the details needed to identify your application. You can also use these texts in a property portal.
First polite follow-up
Subject: Follow-up on rental application – [address] Dear [name / property management team], I submitted my application for the apartment at [address] on [date] and would like to check whether my documents arrived successfully and when a decision might be expected. I remain very interested in the apartment and am happy to answer any questions. Thank you and kind regards, [Full name] [Phone or email]
Second and final follow-up
Subject: Final follow-up – apartment at [address] Dear [name / property management team], I am writing once more about my rental application of [date] for the apartment at [address]. If the apartment has already been let, I would appreciate a brief update. Otherwise, my interest remains unchanged. Thank you and kind regards, [Full name]
Law and procedure
Does a landlord have to respond to your rental application?
It is important to distinguish ordinary selection, a binding agreement and a formal data-protection request.
01
Ordinary application
An application form on its own generally does not entitle you to the apartment, an individual progress update or a detailed explanation of rejection. Certain public allocation systems may have their own rules.
02
Acceptance and lease
A spoken promise is not always legally irrelevant: Swiss contracts are generally not subject to a form requirement unless the law provides otherwise. Do not end your current lease until the new agreement and its conditions are secure.
03
Data access rights
Regardless of your application status, you may request information about personal data being processed. This is not a right to a tenancy decision. Under data-protection rules, a formal request is generally answered within 30 days.
Documents and privacy
What should you send again – and what should you not?
The FDPIC describes an essentially two-stage approach to collecting applicant data. First ask what is missing rather than resending sensitive documents unnecessarily.
01
Documents and privacyInitial selection
A completed application, necessary information about ability to pay and sometimes a recent debt enforcement register extract may be relevant.
02
Documents and privacyShortlist stage
Detailed salary evidence, identity copies and reference checks should generally be requested later when the tenancy agreement is becoming more likely.
03
Documents and privacyAfter a rejection
Application data no longer needed should generally be destroyed or returned unless there is a specific legitimate reason to keep it, such as a properly justified waiting list.
Before you follow up
10 things to check before contacting the agency again
This short checklist helps prevent needless reminders and keeps your housing search on track.
Has the announced application or decision deadline passed?
Do I have an acknowledgement or a successful portal upload?
Are the address and contact person correct?
Are my household, move-in date and contact details complete?
Have I submitted only the documents actually requested?
Is a recent debt-enforcement extract ready if it was requested?
Have I told my references they might be contacted?
Is the follow-up short, friendly and free from pressure?
Am I still considering other rental homes?
Will I keep my existing home until the next tenancy is secure?
UrbanHome
Frequently asked questions about unanswered rental applications
Direct answers on waiting times, follow-ups, rejection, documents and Swiss data protection.
14FAQ
There is no universal Swiss timeframe. Some managers decide within days, while others wait until after the closing date. Follow any timeline communicated by the landlord.
If no timeframe was given, a short message after around three to five working days is sensible. This is practical advice, not a legal deadline.
For ordinary private rental applications there is generally no universal legal obligation to send an individual rejection. Particular public allocation procedures may differ.
No. The decision may still be pending, the submission may have failed or another applicant may be preferred. Without a message, the reason is unknown.
Mention the property address, application date and continued interest. Politely ask whether the file was received and when a decision is expected.
Email or a portal message leaves a useful record. Phone only when the agency asks for calls or there is a specific urgent reason.
One initial reminder and, where appropriate, one later follow-up are usually enough. Daily calls rarely help.
Ordinary private allocation does not generally come with a right to a detailed explanation. Data-protection or discrimination issues must be assessed separately.
Documents no longer needed for unsuccessful applicants should generally be destroyed or returned unless there is a specific legal justification for retention.
A formal Swiss data-protection access request is generally answered within 30 days. That is not a deadline for deciding a rental application.
Not automatically. Under FDPIC guidance, detailed supporting documents generally belong in a later selection stage. Ask first what is needed.
Check the receipt, portal status and email. Ask once whether the submission was successful, identifying the property and date; avoid resending sensitive files without checking.
Do not rely on an informal prospect alone. Since Swiss agreements can sometimes be form-free, clarify the legal position and all conditions before giving notice.
Use UrbanHome to compare rental listings by location, rent and rooms. Keep a clear application file ready and adapt it to each property.
UrbanHome · RentMore renting guides →
Sources
Official sources and update
Legal and research status: 2 November 2026. Suggested waiting times are not statutory deadlines.
Key takeaways
Conclusion: follow up politely and keep looking
Check that your application arrived and whether the landlord has published a decision date. Without one, a polite reminder after three to five working days is a reasonable starting point. You may send one final follow-up, but do not rely exclusively on that property. Your privacy rights remain separate from the landlord’s allocation decision.
Find a home in Switzerland
Search for more rental apartments on UrbanHome
Compare rental homes across Switzerland and use the UrbanHome guides to prepare a complete and privacy-conscious application.
UrbanHome2026Rent