Move-in checklist Switzerland, what to arrange before the key handover
You are moving in soon and worry you will forget something important: insurance, registration, electricity.
In short
A clean move-in in Switzerland has three phases: before the key handover (security deposit, insurances, registering your address), on the handover day (protocol, keys, meter readings) and in the first 14 days (registration with the municipality, electricity provider, internet). Those who work through each phase along the checklist avoid the typical follow-up costs such as fines, double payments or missing evidence when moving out.
For whom?
- · Tenants
- · Flatshare residents
- · Expats
- · Students
When do you need this?
As soon as you have signed the lease, most tasks come up 2 to 4 weeks before moving in.
What should you do now?
Step 1: Place the security deposit in good time (bank deposit account or insurance).
Step 2: Take out household contents and private liability insurance (or adjust them).
Step 3: Report your change of address to the bank, employer, insurers and postal service.
Step 4: Check the electricity provider (in many cantons the basic supplier is assigned automatically, a switch is possible).
Step 5: Organise internet and TV (the appointment often needs 2 to 4 weeks of lead time).
Step 6: At the handover: create a protocol, note the meter readings, count all keys.
Step 7: Within 14 days: register with your new municipality of residence (mandatory).
Free checklist
Work through the points directly in your browser. Or download them as a clean Word document (.docx), one A4 page, ready to print.
Matching next steps
These tips and tools help you carry on right away, free of charge and without sign-up. Not legal advice.
Common mistakes
- Taking out household contents insurance only after moving in, with no cover for water damage in the first days.
- Ignoring the electricity provider and ending up in basic supply, often more expensive than a switched tariff.
- Forgetting to register with the municipality. Fines and problems with health insurance and taxes.
- Not noting the meter readings at move-in, making the later utility bill hard to verify.
- Number of keys not recorded in the handover protocol. Dispute when moving out.
Frequently asked questions
External sources for legal background
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Related topics
The handover protocol records the condition of the flat at the moment of handover. Room by room, with photos and meter readings. Anyone who records it cleanly has a clear basis in the event of a dispute. Without a protocol it becomes much harder to prove later what was already damaged beforehand or what values the meters showed.
The rental deposit serves as security for the management. In Switzerland it may amount to a maximum of three months' rent (excluding service charges). You have two options: a rent deposit account on a blocked bank account (classic, the money is tied up) or a rental deposit insurance (you pay an annual premium, but your money stays free). Both options are legally recognised.
As an expat or student in Switzerland you face three hurdles: you do not yet have a Swiss salary statement, no Swiss debt collection register extract and usually no local reference. With the right workarounds (employment contract instead of salary statement, parental guarantee, furnished interim solution, a good English cover letter) you can still find something quickly.
This content is for practical guidance and does not replace legal advice. For binding legal information, please contact a qualified specialist office, a conciliation authority or the tenants' association.