Finding an apartment/house

Many people in Switzerland live in rented accommodation. They are tenants. Building land is scarce. For this reason, there are not many vacant apartments, especially in cities. And rents are usually high. People often pay about one-quarter of their monthly income in rent.

Outside cities, rents are cheaper. In the Jura, public transport is very well developed. Almost all localities can be reached by public transport.

Offers for apartments can be found on websites or in local newspapers. There are also advertisements on billboards or in shopping malls. Sometimes there are no public advertisements for vacant apartments. So it is useful to tell your friends and acquaintances that you are looking for an apartment.

Are you interested in an apartment/house?

You must contact the landlord or the estate agency. An appointment will be made to visit the apartment/house.

Do you like this apartment/house?

You must complete a form and submit an application, with various documents: your pay slips (or other proof of income) and a recent excerpt from the Office des poursuites (Debt Enforcement Office).

You can request this excerpt from your local Office des poursuites (Debt Enforcement Office). You can also do so online.

With these documents, the landlord or agency checks whether you can pay the rent for this apartment.

There are often several applications for an apartment.

Tip: apply for several apartments at the same time.

In the Canton of Jura, Swiss citizens and foreigners with a C residence permit are free to buy apartments or houses to live in themselves or to rent out.

People with a B residence permit who come from a European country (EU or EFTA) can also do so.

People with a B residence permit who come from another country can buy an apartment or house, but only to live in themselves.

People with other permits (L or F) cannot buy apartments or houses.

For more information, contact the registre foncier (Land Registry).