Can I rent a second apartment and not register?

Accomodation, House and Garden
1
Good day,

I am considering signing a rent contract together with someone else. This contract would be my second renting contract. However, I want to stay living and registered in my present place. The question is;

Must I register in the new place, even though I'm already registered somewhere else in the same Kanton?

Can I avoid it registering the new contract as a second apartment?

I appreciate your helpful replies!

2
Chances are your landlord will inform the Gemeinde that you are living there.

3
I have rented properties in Ticino and I never thought of informing the Gemeinde. I don't think that's a very common practice. But I do need to attach the rental agreements to the tax returns every year.

4
You can rent as many places as you like.

You only register at the one you actually live at.

Tom

5
Why?

Tom

6
For sure electricity company gets notified.

Last time I had a 2nd apartment close to my new job I registered myself in the gemeinde, and the landlord notified them when I left. Not sure if gemeinde or cantonal rules.

7
Simply put: a Gemeinde has a very strong interest in your taxes, so they will want you to register. They might be better organized in Zurich than in Ticino, but the principle is the same. If you want a second flat, do you have two options:

1. You either need to rent something that is approved as a secondary home - you can typically find those in the mountains and they are in very high demand...

2. second option is the typical flat next to your work - you still need to register, but you can do so as a "Wochenaufenthalter"... claiming that you center of life is elsewhere and that you wont spend any weekends at your secondary place. Many people do so in Zürich: their official address is in ZG or SZ where the tax is low and their flat in ZH is allegedly only for work. The tax man might actually try to ring your doorbell on a weekend to check on you!!! (typical case of "only in Switzerland")...

8
If you actually move where you live, you need to register otherwise you can get fined

(http://www2.zhlex.zh.ch/appl/zhlex_r.nsf/WebView/E6292D5287D17248C125825600453D0A/$File/142.1_11.5.15_100.pdf)

If it is a case that you are using the second appartment during the work week, it can be beneficial to actually register as Wochenaufenthalter since you might be able to deduct some rent as expenses.

You may also want to consider the relative tax rates whether you pro-actively register or wait and see whether the second residence thing "with someone else" pans out.

9
Why would you want to rent out a place with someone else and then not stay there???

For a while there, it was popular around Basel, for employment reasons, tax reasons etc.... until the immigration and tax authorities took action.

10
Thanks a lot for the good and useful answers. It is clear now for me that it's not so easy.

Answering to @Jim2007 , there more than one reason but the main reason for me to be in the contract is to satisfy the financial requiremets to get the apartment. The other person alone might get rejected because of the salary requirements.

This would be my case. And do I need to prove something to the Gemeinde? Or just not register?

Thanks again!

11
And if and when the landlord discovers your deception what then? People to no like to be deceived and he may well decide to cancel the contract and or make a complaint about your behaviour.

12
We own an apartment in Switzerland, a house in Switzerland, and a house in Trieste.

We are only registered at the apartment in Swizterland.

QED

Tom

13
And what has that got to do with the OP trying conn a landlord into thinking that is mate is in a better financial situation than he actually is in order to get an apartment?????

14
If your friend does not pay, the landlord will send you a Betreibung/poursuite.

15
Why would this be deceiving?! I plan to keep my contractual obligations. As far as I remember my contract, there are no obligations to actually live there.

16
I find this insulting. You are welcomed to give your opinion but there's quite a stretch with you bashing someone who posted a question.

17
Well, you would be sub letting the place and that requires the approval from the landlord.

18
Not necessarily subletting, maybe both names will be in the contract as main tenants. They will both be financially liable and also both involved in the (payment of) rental depot and all associated paperwork.

So far I don't think it will be illegal, strictly speaking. But here comes the gray zone IMHO.

To be completely transparent the landlord should be made aware of the existing rental from the OP, otherwise the guarantee provided by his salary would be falsely assessed (if one uses the same salary to guarantee N rentals then it violates the spirit of the guarantee - at least). This may cause issues depending on the personal opinion of the landlord, if and when it is discovered.

19
Technically, I rent a place that I don't live in or pay for, as my name is also on the lease.

Tom

20
Am I the only one whose immediate thought was:

„he wants to rent a place to keep the mistress nearby?“