Finding a flat in a tight market: How to make your application stand out
At just 0.5% vacancy, every application counts. With these documents, you’ll stand out from hundreds of other candidates.
Redaktion swissexpat · 10 July 2026 · 6 min
In Zurich, Geneva or Zug, fifty households quickly apply for a lovely flat. Landlords decide based on the paperwork – and that’s where you can stand out.
The perfect application file
Prepare a complete file before the first viewing: completed registration form, copy of your ID, employment contract or three months’ salary slips, and a current extract from the debt register. If you’re new to Switzerland and have no local credit history: an extract from your home country plus a short covering letter explaining your situation.
What landlords look for
- Stable income (rent no more than one-third of gross salary)
- No debt enforcement entries
- Completeness and care – they signal reliability
- Availability: a telephone number where you can be reached during the day
Deposit and handover
The rental deposit is capped at three months’ rent and must go into a blocked account in your name – or you can take out a deposit insurance policy, which preserves your liquidity but carries an annual fee. On moving in: check the handover report item by item and photograph every defect. The report is your protection when you move out.
Speed beats perfection: bring your file to the viewing and you’ll be ahead of hundreds of applications.
Source: Swiss Code of Obligations rental law, VMWG. Status July 2026.
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