Renting in Switzerland: the deposit in your name, the extract and the 30 days

Yes, as a Dutch citizen you simply rent in Switzerland, and you're not alone in that: 61% of households lived in a rented or cooperative home at the end of 2024. The average net rent that year was CHF 1,485 a month, with Zug, Zürich and Schwyz as the most expensive cantons. The deposit is at most three months' rent and goes into an account in your name. What you need to know before you start looking: almost every landlord asks for an extract from the debt register, and anyone who wants to challenge a rent increase or a notice has 30 days for it.

What does a landlord ask of you?

Anyone who wants a home usually fills in an application form: profession, monthly income, number of children, nationality or residence permit, and employer. If you have pets, ask beforehand whether they're allowed. And almost always the landlord asks for a Betreibungsregisterauszug: an extract showing that no debt enforcement proceedings were brought against you in the past five years.

That extract generally costs CHF 17 plus postage, and you request it from the Betreibungsamt of your canton of residence, at the counter or online. It only shows proceedings in the district where you request it. If you've just come from the Netherlands, it will therefore be empty; to be safe, also bring an employment contract or payslips as proof that you can pay.

Fees for "reserving" a home or for withdrawing your application may not be charged, even if they're on the application form.

How much deposit do you pay, and where is it held?

Item	Rule	Amount or deadline
Deposit (Kaution or Depot)	only if the contract asks for it	at most three months' rent
Where the deposit is held	in a Mietkautionskonto in the tenant's name	back with interest after you leave
Cooperative home	usually no deposit, but buying shares	per cooperative
Betreibungsregisterauszug	proof that you have no debts	CHF 17 plus postage
Challenging a rent increase	in writing at the Schlichtungsbehörde	within 30 days
Reference rate	basis for rent adjustments	1.25%, unchanged as of September 2026

The deposit is security for the landlord, but the money sits in a special bank account in your name. After you leave you get it back with interest. With a Wohnbaugenossenschaft, a housing cooperative, you usually pay no deposit but buy shares.

Record every defect at the key handover. Landlord and tenant inspect the home together and write defects down in a report, even small ones: a broken socket, a damaged mirror. Whatever isn't in it may end up on your bill when you leave.

What if the rent is too high or goes up?

A rent increase must come on an official form, for example after a renovation or when the reference rate rises. If you think it's unjustified, you object in writing within 30 days to the Schlichtungsbehörde, the rent arbitration board of your municipality or region. Conversely, you can ask for a reduction if the reference rate falls and your rent is still based on a higher rate. It has stood at 1.25% since September 2025.

You can also have the initial rent reviewed: under certain conditions within 30 days of moving in, for example if you pay at least 10% more than the previous tenant. In some cantons the landlord must give you a form with the contract explaining how to do that.

How do you give notice, and what do you do when leaving?

The deadlines and notice dates are in your contract. You give notice in writing, preferably by registered mail; if you're married, you both sign. If you want to leave before the contract date, you can propose a successor who takes over the contract; the landlord has about a month to assess them. If the landlord gives notice, it must be on an official form, and you have 30 days to object at the Schlichtungsbehörde.

Subletting is allowed if you inform the landlord; for a furnished home you may charge at most 20% above your own rent.

All this only matters once you have an address, and you need that address for registering with the municipality within fourteen days, see living in Switzerland. Anyone who wants to buy later first reads about buying a house in Switzerland.

In Vertrekklaar this is phase 4 of 5 of the journey, step 4.1: the same steps, but for your situation — in your order, tickable, and with the deadlines watched. See the whole journey to Switzerland or go straight to step 4.1 in the open plan.