Clients private space

Welcome to Geneva !

This guide is intended to help you in your search for accommodation and your installation. Let yourself be guided!

  • Documents required for your home search

    In order to be ready to seize the opportunities, we will need you to send us the following documents as soon as you arrive, or before arrival if possible :

    1. Copy of an identity document and/or residence permit (or application if it is pending) for you and your partner
    2. Certificate of non-prosecution issued by the Office of Proceedings and Bankruptcy dated less than 3 months ago (application to be made online even before arrival: www.ge.ch)
    3. Salary certificate or the last 3 pay slips (provided by your HR department)
  • Understanding real estate offers

    We will assist you in the choice of your living area and your criteria in order to find an accommodation that suits you. Below are a few tips to help you understand accomodation offers we will offer :

    • Real estate agencies are called “régies“.
    • The number of rooms displayed includes the kitchen. The calculation of the square meters includes all the floor space.
    • Collective charges generally include heating and hot water. They are paid in addition to the rent. Electricity is usually not included and you will need to subscribe an individual contract.
    • Parking is generally not included in the rent.
    • A “through” apartment is an accommodation benefiting from a double exposure.
    • A penthouse is an apartment located on the highest floor, under the attic.
    • A fitted kitchen includes only the cupboards; an equipped kitchen includes the furniture and appliances.
    • Many Swiss buildings and villas have a bomb shelter.
    • Many buildings include a shared laundry room that each resident can use (freely or with pre-defined time slots). Apartments are more and more equipped with their own appliances.
  • Viewings

    We will organise visits of the properties you have selected and may accompany your for the visits. Different scenarios may arise:

    1. Visit on appointment with a real estate agent of the Régie.
    2. Self-guided tour upon reservation of the keys at the Régie
    3. Group visit organised by the real estate agency or by the leaving tenant.
  • Submit an application for a flat or house

    If you are interested in the accommodation, we will submit your application to the real estate agency. This is why it is useful to have all your documents ready.

    The demand for housing being higher than the offer, the choice of the file remains at the free appreciation of the owner. Therefore, we recommend that you do not hesitate to make several applications.

  • Acceptance of the application and signature of the lease

    Once your file has been accepted, a lease contract is drawn up for signature. It is important to understand the terms of the contract, especially those relating to the termination of the contract.

    Leases generally begin on the 1st or 15th of the month. Their duration varies from one year, renewable for small spaces, up to 3 or 5 years.

    To terminate a lease at the end of its term, a registered letter must be sent to the management company or the owner, usually 3 months before the expiration date of the contract, signed by all the people who originally signed the lease.

    If you wish to cancel the lease before the expiration date, you will be requested to propose to the owner a solvent tenant ready to takeover your lease. Then, you will be exempted from paying the rent until the end of the lease.

  • Steps to take before the check-in

    At the latest for the check-in inventory appointment, you will have to provide :

    1. A certificate of liability insurance.
      You will find below the contacts of two companies that our clients often work with (but you can make a different choice if you wish) :

      Bâloise Assurances
      Agence de Carouge
      Monsieur Pascal Noël

      Tél. 058 285 58 94
      Tél. mobile 079 257 70 50
      www.baloise.ch

      Vaudoise Assurances
      Agence de Genève
      Mme Taline Wursten

      Tél. 022.317.72.85

    2. A security deposit which generally corresponds to 3 months’ rent.
      • in the form of a bank guarantee provided by your employer
      • by opening a guarantee account at your bank in Switzerland
      • or via a company that offers you a guarantee for annual fees without blocking the funds (Swisscaution, Firstcaution or insurance companies) .

    3. Proof of payment of your first month’s rent plus admistrative fees for the lease contract

  • Check-in inventory

    The check-in inventory is very important in Switzerland because it will be the reference when you leave. Please keep track of the report carefully and do not hesitate to take photos. You have a period of 10 days after signing this document to report in writing any other damage that you may have missed (with photos).

    You will have to return your accommodation in the state in which you received it, cleared of all objects, including lights and rods that you have installed. The real estate agency will carry out a pre check-out inventory to inform you of everything that needs to be done before your departure.

  • Your installation

    Electricity & cold water
    We take care of opening of your contract with the electricity provider. You will receive confirmation once the request is processed.

    Internet / TV / phone
    You compare offers and make your choice between several operators on this site: Internet Subscription Comparator

    If you opt for Swisscom, we are entitled to open a contract on your behalf. To do so, we need you to choose  between the various offers available: Swisscom subscription/combination offers configurator

    Radio & TV licence fee
    In Switzerland, every household contributes CHF 1 per day to the public service in the field of electronic media.

    The organisation responsible for collecting the fee is Serafe . You receive your annual bill directly by post.

    Furniture and household equipment
    You will find below a non-exhaustive list of the main brands (sorted by increasing prices):

     

  • Transportation and mobility

    Connection between Geneva airport & Geneva centre
    The connection is very fast by public transport (7 minutes by train to Cornavin station).

    More info by following this link: Geneva airport transport

    Public transportations
    Geneva benefits from a very good public transport network called TPG.
    For maps and rates, please visit: www.tpg.ch

    Boat: les Mouettes
    Your TPG ticket also allows you to take the yellow boat lines called “Mouettes genevoises” to go from one side of the lake to the other.
    See their website https://mouettesgenevoises.com/

    Trains
    For your transports in Switzerland, the train is a reliable and comfortable option, although quite expensive.
    For example, you can reach Lausanne in 35 minutes with very frequent trains.
    www.sbb.ch

    Leman Express / CEVA
    A new train line links France and Switzerland around the Lake Geneva region. In the centre, the Léman Express serves Cornavin, Lancy Pont-Rouge, Carouge, Champel and Eaux-Vives stations.
    https://lemanexpress.ch/

    Cars and permits

    If you wish to import your car to Switzerland, you will have to pass a technical inspection to get your license plate. The owner has 1 year to register the vehicle. Consult the procedure to obtain information about the steps to be taken to import a vehicle.
    More information about the Swiss Vehicle Service: https://www.ge.ch/importer-exporter-vehicule

    As soon as you take up residence in Switzerland, you must exchange your valid (not expired) foreign driving license for a Swiss driving license. This must be done within 12 months of taking up residence in Switzerland. If the foreign driver’s license has expired, it must first be renewed by the country of issue.
    For more information on the Automobile Service: https://www.ge.ch/echanger-son-permis-conduire-etranger

    Parking

    • Public parks in the city centre : consult the list here
    • Street parking in the white zone : paid parking to be paid at the nearest pay station by entering your license plate number.

    All information on payment methods by clicking here

    • Street parking in the blue zone with “disc”: free parking for up to 1 hour by indicating your arrival time on your parking disc. Attention: no extensions allowed!

    Parking in the blue zone in your neighbourhood with a “badge”: unlimited parking in your residential area on payment of an annual contribution of CHF 200 to obtain the “badge” for your neighbourhood (to be affixed to your windscreen).

    More info : Fondation des parkings

    Shared vehicles
    If you do not have your own car, you can use the shared car service called Mobility. Once you have subscribed, you can reserve your car online and pick it up at the car park of your choice.

    More info at: https://www.mobility.ch/fr/

    Bikes
    Geneva has developed a network of cycle paths and opened a greenway along the Lake Geneva Express line.
    See the map of cycle routes on the Geneva website

    You can also benefit from bike loans at one of the 11 Genève Roule collection points (from April to October). More info: https://www.geneveroule.ch/fr

  • For your children

    Day care centres and kindergartens

    Geneva offers a variety of childcare facilities depending on the age of the child and on your needs. More information on Geneva website or directly to the Early Childhood Information Office (Bureau d’Informations de la Petite Enfance

    Nurseries
    There is a procedure for registering your child for a childcare facility (nursery, etc.) subsidized by the City of Geneva. This process is open to all parents living in the city of Geneva according to the BIPE allocation criteria. Families who do not live in the city of Geneva but who work there can still register with BIPE, which will only be processed once the requests of the residents of the city of Geneva have been satisfied. If you live in the city of Geneva, you can register your application using the following link. You can also go to the Bureau d’information de la Petite Enfance (BIPE) with the required documents.

    Useful links
    Nurseries and other early childcare structures

    Rates for childcare facilities

    FAQs – Registering for an early childhood daycare structure

    Family day care
    Family day care is an alternative to day care centers. The child is cared for in the home of the family day care assistant, formerly known as a day mom.
    Family day care centers offer a quality alternative to the collective day care center for toddlers. Children are cared for individually in the home of a family daycare assistant, while benefiting from moments of collective care at the family daycare.
    The family nursery allows the child to be welcomed in the home of an assistant in a warm and family environment. The latter can take care of between 2 and 4 children at a time, from Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm; the hours are fixed at the time of registration.
    The rates are calculated according to the tax notice or the parents’ salaries according to an evolving scale (about 20% cheaper than nurseries).

    Profawo
    Profawo helps you improve your work-life balance by offering a childcare network with excellent references. The services offered are as follows:

    • Connecting with nannies or backup nannies (emergency care for a sick child, for example)
    • Assistance in finding long-term care solutions
    • Assistance in finding activities during the school vacations

    The staff of Profawo Suisse romande is at your disposal for any question:

    Croix-rouge
    The Geneva Red Cross allows families to benefit from rapid home childcare interventions. Childcare solutions, according to your specific needs:

    • Chaperon Rouge: rapid home childcare interventions. Your child is sick or your usual childcare system (parent, nursery) is missing? You have to go away unexpectedly? Le Chaperon Rouge takes over.
    • Chaperon Rouge breathing voucher: you are tired, overworked parents? The Red Riding Hood service of the Geneva Red Cross can help you.
    • Babysitting: are you looking for a reliable babysitter? The Geneva Red Cross network is at your disposal.

    Other private organisations

    My Sweet Days

    My Sweet Days offers a placement service for qualified personnel specialized in childcare, with the mission to serve individuals and businesses by providing access to a network of professionals including maternity nurses, French and English-speaking nannies, nannies and personal assistants.

    Priorité Enfants

    Priorité enfants offers childcare services, nannies and housekeepers to meet the needs of families.

    Registration at the Swiss public school
    In Geneva, schooling starts from the age of 4 (for children born before 31 July).

    Registration depends on your address : you need to find a place to leave first. Once you have settled in Geneva, you must contact the school closest to your home to apply for registration. Most often you will be offered a place in that school. In some cases, however, you may be offered a place in another school.

    Registration in private international schools
    Geneva also offers many options if you want your child to continue his or her education in your home country language/system or in an international system. Registration is not linked to your address : you may choose the school that best suits your child’s needs wherever you leave, only checking that daily commuting is feasable.

    You will find on the websites below the list of private schools according to the age group / language and the desired school system:

    Leisure and extra-curricular activities

    • Day camps and holiday activities organized by Geneva city or other structures : loisirsjeunes.ch
  • Emergency & useful phone numbers
    Firefighters 118
    Police 117
    Vehicle breakdown service 140
    Ambulance 144
    SOS Doctors 022 748 49 50
    Cantonal Hospital 022 372 33 11
    Children Hospital 022 382 45 55
    Doctors Association 022 322 20 20
    Dentists Association Rive droite 022 733 98 00
    Rive gauche 022 346 64 44
    Vets 0900 83 83 43
    Main tendue 143
    Lost & Found 022 327 60 00
    Taxi 022 331 41 33
    Tourist Office 022 909 70 00