Accommodation in Zurich

Flats in Germany tend to be rented out unfurnished. However, many people sublet their flat or a room for a specific period of time - in these cases, the flat is furnished. A big advantage of these offers is that you don't have to pay for your furnishings in addition to the rent and deposit - and you also save on transport! When handing over the flat, make sure to thoroughly document any damage to the furnishings (and the flat in general), because the landlord has the right to hold you liable for any damage caused by you during your rental period. This means that you would have to pay for the repair of the damage - it is common for the landlord to do this by keeping your deposit. If, on the other hand, you can prove that the damage was not caused by you and was already present before you started renting, you usually don't have to worry.

In addition to subletting a furnished flat, it is not uncommon for people to leave their flat fully furnished - they move out and offer to let the next tenant take over the furnishings. In this case, you would have to pay the previous tenant a compensation for the furnishings, the amount of which you would agree together.

A "WG" is a shared flat, so you live with other people and have your own room in the shared flat. The kitchen, dining area, bathroom and sometimes the living room are shared with all the flatmates. Shared rooms are not only available on a long-term basis, but often only for a fixed period of time; these offers are then for "Zwischenmiete" or "Untermiete". WG rooms are often in high demand, which is why there are usually many applicants and the flatmates do a kind of "WG casting" - you can think of this as a small job interview where you get to know each other and see if you are a good match. Be prepared for your potential flatmates to ask you about your flat-sharing experience, your hobbies and your work or studies. Once the flatmates have chosen you, you can get ready to move in. Find out in advance whether you can officially register in Zurich with your flat-sharing contract and receive a “Wohnungsgeberbestätigung” from the landlord.

Having a flat all to yourself (and maybe your family) definitely has its own appeal. That's why this type of accommodation is probably one of the most sought-after. Nevertheless, there are many offers, especially if the flat is not directly in the centre. Therefore, when searching, also pay attention to the transport connections! There are a few things to keep in mind when looking at flat advertisements, so that there are no unpleasant surprises in the tenancy agreement or later when settling the bill - there is a difference between cold rent and warm rent. The cold rent is calculated on the basis of the size of the flat, its location and its furnishings. The warm rent, on the other hand, is the sum of the cold rent and the “Nebenkosten” (service charges) that you still have to pay for a flat. Service charges include operating costs, water, electricity and gas costs. Service charges are calculated on the basis of average values from previous years, which means that the amount can vary. It is also important to know that you pay the service charges in advance. In the following year, you will receive a utility bill that documents your consumption. If your consumption is lower than estimated, you will get a refund from the landlord; if your consumption is higher than estimated, you will have to pay extra. Look in flat advertisements to see if they list both the cold rent and the warm rent. As a guide, the service charges are usually around 2-3 euros per square metre of your flat. When planning your budget, keep in mind that the cold rent for your flat should not be more than one third of your net income.

If you no longer appreciate the romance of a shared flat and prefer to rent your own apartment, you should familiarize yourself with some basic terms before you start looking for a place to live:

In Germany, there are two different kinds of rent – Kaltmiete (cold rent) and Warmmiete (warm rent). Kaltmiete is the price just for the room/apartment, while Warmmiete is the price of rent including utilities, such as water and gas, which are calculated from a year’s average and vary according to consumption. If you have used up more than your previous tenant in one year, you may have to pay extra for the annual bill. If you have used less, you will get money back.

Most apartment websites show both cold and warm rent as well as any additional costs. On average, the additional costs are around 2 to 3 euros per m² and thus make up 30 to 50 percent of the rent.

A good rule of thumb is that the Kaltmiete should not exceed one third of the tenant's net income. This will help you determine what you can reasonably afford and qualify for when renting an apartment. The landlord will typically ask for proof of income, such as pay slips, a work contract, or a tax statement as part of the application process.

In Berlin, apartments are in great demand and can be difficult to find. If you want to increase your chances of getting an apartment, you should come with a completed application when you visit the apartment. Make sure your application is complete! Missing documents will hurt your chances of being accepted as a tenant. Continue here to find out which documents you will need to add to your application:

This certificate documents that you have always paid your rent reliably - and it implies that you will continue to do so in the future. Your future landlord understandably has a great interest in this, which is why a certificate of freedom from rent debts is often required when applying for a flat. You will get this certificate from your current landlord. If you have never paid rent yourself before, it is of course difficult to submit a certificate of freedom from rent debts. In this case, we advise you to submit a rent guarantee declaration from your parents; with this document, your parents declare that they will pay your rent if necessary, should you not be able to do so yourself.

The abbreviation SCHUFA stands for "Schutzgemeinschaft für allgemeine Sicherung" - in Germany, it provides information about the creditworthiness of private individuals. Based on your past payment history, SCHUFA gives an assessment of how your payment history will look in the future. For example, if you always pay your bills on time and have no debts, there is a high probability that your SCHUFA will be positive. Your future landlord will naturally want you to pay your rent reliably and on time. Someone with a positive SCHUFA report therefore usually has a better chance of getting a flat than someone with a bad SCHUFA report. You can apply for your SCHUFA information online.

The proof of income serves to show the landlord that you can afford the flat. You can submit a copy of your last three payslips as documentation of your income. If you are new to the job, you can ask your employer to confirm your income and submit a copy of your employment contract to the landlord. If you are self-employed, you can use a copy of your last tax assessment to prove your income. If you are not yet working or have a job with a low number of hours, for example because you are still studying, you should submit a rent guarantee statement from your parents instead of your proof of income. They will guarantee the payment of the rent. Alternatively, your parents can of course rent the flat and have their name entered in the rental contract, but they must then be able to prove their income and provide the relevant other evidence.

You can think of this document as a questionnaire - the landlord wants more information about you and your family and economic situation. Please answer these questions truthfully, because if you give false information and your landlord finds out later, he can terminate the tenancy. Please note that questions about religious affiliation, sexual orientation, party affiliation or family planning are not allowed. You do not have to answer these questions.

This document is filled out by your new landlord to confirm your tenancy. In addition to the name and address of the landlord (or the owner of the flat), the landlord's confirmation must also state the date you moved in, the address of the flat and your name. Please note that your tenancy agreement does not replace the landlord's confirmation, you have to present both when registering. Your landlord probably already knows the process, but if he or she doesn't have a sample landlord confirmation, you can use this document.

Once you have found a flat in Zurich and have moved in, you must register with the city within fourteen days. This means that you inform the city of Zurich where you live. You must register if you move to Zurich from another city in Germany and live in the city for longer than six months or if you move to Zurich from abroad and live in the city for longer than three months. In addition to the registration form, you will also need a certificate from your landlord and your identity card or passport. Please make an appointment to bring all the necessary documents with you. Further information on registration and the link to make an appointment can be found here.