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Listings

  • « Régie »: real estate agency
  • Number of rooms: includes kitchen (in Geneva), living room and bedrooms. An open kitchen or small bedroom counts as 0.5
  • Charges for an apartment: include heating and hot water which are collective. Electricity and internet are individual extras
  • Charges for a house: all charges are individual. Maintenance costs or annual contracts (heating, garden, etc.) may be at tenant’s charge too
  • Attic: apartment on the last floor
  • Fitted kitchen: includes furniture only; equipped kitchen includes furniture and appliances.
  • Common laundry room: very frequent when there is no individual washing machine in the flat.

 

Visits

 You may find various scenarios for viewings:

  • Visits on appointment with the agent
  • Unaccompanied visit upon reservation of keys at the agency’s office
  • Group visit organized by the agency or by the outgoing tenant.

Visits are subject to agencies opening hours (generally Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm). Visits organized by tenants may take place in the evening or during weekends.

 

Application

To apply for a flat, you will need to complete the regie’s application form and attach the following documents:

  • Copy of your passport or identity card for you and your family
  • Copy of your residence permit (or application form) for you and your spouse.
  • Attestation of salary or last 3 payslips for you and your spouse
  • Certificate issued by the « Office des poursuites » proving that you are free of any debt or financial proceedings in the canton (valid for 3 months)

Order it online here: https://www.ge.ch/poursuites-faillites/demander-extrait-du-registre-poursuites
or collect it directly at the Office on 46 rue du Stand, Geneva.

There are many applicants for the same property, and the choice is at the owner’s discretion. Don’t hesitate to make several applications at the same time!

 

Lease signature

Once your application is accepted, the agency will issue your lease contract. We will explain the terms and conditions, with a special focus on the cancellation conditions.
Lease contracts generally begin on the 1st or 15th of the month. Their duration varies from one year renewable to 3, 5 years or more.
Once the contract has been signed, the rental company will arrange an appoitnment for the check-in inventory of the property.

 

Steps before check-in inspection

Before the check-in inspection, you will need to provide:

  1. A certificate of liability insurance: we will provide you with insurers contacts you can reach out for an offer
  2. A rental guarantee of 3 months’ rent: through a bank deposit guarantee or through an insurance.
  3. Proof of payment of your first month’s rent and any administrative one time fees.

 

Check-in inspection

During the check-in inspection, you wil agree on the initial state and inventory of your property. The agency will prepare a detailed report including photos, which you will countersign. You can report in writing any additional damage you may have missed (with photos) within 10 days of the appointment.
When you leave, you must return your apartment in the condition in which you received it. The agency will carry out a pre-departure inventory to show you everything that needs to be fixed before you leave, followed by a final inventory after your move.