What is the hottest type of property to rent in Zurich?

skorich · 10 May 2018 16:50

Hi all,

First of all, let me say that I am aware that the competition for any rental property in Zurich is high! I am about to move there and start flat-hunting and I am terrified.

Out of a curiosity, I was wondering if there was a type of property that was even "hotter" than the average? Or conversely, one type that was slightly less in demand (by comparison).

For example, are studio flats more in demand than family-size apartments (3.5+ rooms)? How about medium sized apartments (2.5 rooms)? Are new builds more competitive to get compared to period properties? How about details like ground floor vs higher floor? Balcony vs no-balcony? Any specific perks that is in very high-demand?

Any comments would be greatly appreciated! I am just trying to wrap my head around the rental market to get ready for the challenge that I'll have to face soon

Many thanks!

Magnar · 10 May 2018 17:04

I know of some properties in Hawaii that are pretty hot now.

nergi · 10 May 2018 17:25

I understand your questions. I had them too, when I first moved here, along with others about whether I'd like the view, the flooring, whether it'd be better to be right near a bus-stop or a little walk away, etc.

In Zurich, there is a huge demand for accommodation in the middle and low ranges, way in excess of the number of flats readily available. When they flats are advertised for the one-hour viewing slot, dozens of applicants may turn up, the better (or mostly the cheaper) the flat the more, even up to 100 or 200. Hesitating a day to put in an application means that one simply will not even be considered. Once I'd been here for a while, I learnt that, unless one is renting in the luxury end of the spectrum, most people are just grateful to find a flat, any flat.

Even so, you obviously need a starting point. If you already know where you'll be working, then it's a good idea to think about your commute. Some do commute by car, but many, many people use the most excellent public transport system, which is clean, reliable and efficient. Using it frees one from having to look for (and pay for) a parking space near work.

Here's a may of the city with the numbers of the areas:

https://www.google.ch/search?q=z%C3%...BfG3N1a5W5L_M:

and here they are listed with their names:

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stadtt...r_Stadt_Zürich .

Have a look here: https://www.zvv.ch/zvv/en/fahrplan/liniennetz.html . You'll see a plan for the city, and also for the so-called S-Bahn. Then you can locate your work, and see which areas of town are on a commuting corridor. Experiment a bit with the timetables, here: https://online.fahrplan.zvv.ch/bin/query.exe/en (and yes, they are true, as in: that really, really is the time the bus/train/tram runs, with only minor deviations). It's wonderful!

Apart from the usual factors that are valid in any other city (noisy near a junction, or smelly upstairs from a take-away, etc.) one factor that is particularly Swiss is living near a church which might ring its clock bell hourly, even quarter-hourly, and an additional several times a day as a call to prayer-time.

Nameria · 10 May 2018 18:56

When we were looking, I had searches lodged with Homegate and Comparis for 3+ rooms, under CHF 3,200 per month, in these postcodes as they were the best locations for my partner's commute to work... 8001, 8002, 8006, 8008, 8032, 8038, 8125, 8700, 8702, 8703, 8704, 8802, 8803 He'd decided against being walking distance from work so that he had some work / home separation.

That little excercise taught me how little actually comes onto the market, and how fast it goes. On one occassion, we were having brunch in town one Saturday morning, when an email came through with two great new listings in the Mühlebach area. By the time we got home 3hrs later, the apartments had both gone, or all the viewing appointments had been taken.

Even with an open door mass viewing, once the agent has 40 or 50 attendees registered, they remove the advert. With the last one that we viewed in October, I was lucky that I'd taken a print of the ad whilst it was live, and was still able to call the agent to book a viewing. My partner was running late, so I had a good look around the apartment whilst (easily) over other 60 people viewed it.

My tip No.1 is to get an application form when you walk in the door of a open viewing, because at the last one, the two agents managing the apartment, had both run out of forms when we left. I've also been to 3 viewings where people turned up with all their all their documents, completed the application form at the kitchen table, and submitted their fully complete application pack before leaving the viewing. That's the level of your competition for some places.

Happy hunting!

nergi · 10 May 2018 19:02

Yes, to all Blueangel has written here.

One of these documents is called a Betreibungsregisterauszug (sometimes shortened to Betreibungsauszug). It is an extract (Auszug) from a record (Register) of any debt collection procedures (Betreibungen) one may have had passed against one during the past 2 or 5 years. If one has always paid one's bills punctually, then the Betreibungsregisterauszug will be empty.

If you can bring something will you, that could be deemed to be the equivalent, that'd be excellent. Perhaps you could get your bank manager to certify that your payment record is good, or your HR Department to write that you are known to be a reliable and honest person. If it is possible to get a record from, say, a small claims court, to show that you have not been found guilty of owning anything, that would help, too. Any certificate that shows you to be "clean".

jasvetle · 10 May 2018 20:52

Pretty much everything in Zurich is hot. Most competition you'll get for cheapish (for Zurich standard) apartments suitable for singles, i.e. 1.5-2.5 room apartments for let's say less than 1500. I've seen literally 100-150 people line up two blocks down the road to see this type of apartment.

The more expensive it gets, the less competition you'll have. If you can easily fork over 2500.- for 2 rooms and 50qm, you'll probably have a handful of other applicants and that's it.

Balcony, non-balcony, floor etc. all don't matter much. People take pretty much anything they can afford as too many seem to be entirely determined to live in Zurich for whatever reason that may be, and demand far exceeds supply.

Patience is key. And speed in applying as quickly as you possibly can.

Nameria · 10 May 2018 21:14

Forgot to say, spend time composing your application cover letter now and save it on your desktop. When you see something you like, just cut & paste, change the name and address, then send.

Also keep a record of all the apartments you've applied to view, contacts, etc...and a diary of viewings. Follow up on viewings but don't become a proverbial pain in the backside.

A little tip that some forget, but which I've been told secured both of our homes in Zurich, be complimentary about the place you're viewing. Don't be the 'tyre kicker' of property. Nobody appreciates that and good manners go an awful long way here.

OakbrookIL · 10 May 2018 21:29

Or consider moving just outside of Zurich, still very good connections to Zurich downtown but often less issues finding something (and when you are on a C permit, less taxes)

leophillalo · 10 May 2018 22:10

Call me a frustrated, would be real estate agent, but even though I have rented a very nice flat in Zurich at a good price, I still subscribe and receive listings from both Homegate and Comparis on a daily basis for flats in my area (namely, 8032, 8008, 8002, and 8001).

I can tell you that in these areas, the market has softened. Perhaps there has been an exodus of expats - of that I am unsure. But there is much more available now and at lower prices than a year ago when I was looking.

I think in these areas, gone are the days when one had to submit bids straight away to secure a rental. I will be curious to see what unfolds in the next few years. I suspect the pharmaceutical companies will not see the ROI they have enjoyed for how many years now?? The US is under pressure to enact change and my sense is, that will not bode well for the pharma industry nor for the Swiss rental market. But time will tell...

Vitaylang · 11 May 2018 07:26

Assume you are moving for work so ask your employer if they are prepared to fund the services of a relocation consultant. From my own personal experience this was a total lifesaver as I was flat hunting from the UK and my German language skills are terrible. I gave her my list of requirements and she came back with a shortlist for viewings which I selected from and she then made the appointments. She is a highly experienced professional who is well known in the property circles (Zug/Zuri area) and I believe this really helped me secure the most fabulous pad within a short commute to work and on budget. She took all the stress out of process which meant I just rocked up in CH with an apartment, moved in and started work the following day. PM me if you want her details, although most employers have arrangements with their own relocation consultants.

muschmire · 11 May 2018 07:50

The cheapest, the newest, and the well connected one.

Studio is meant for single.

2,5 is for couple

3,5-4,5 is for couple with middle up income or small family.

WG zimmer or temporar housing are options when you need to wait to find a right apartment.

The hot one will be gone in hours, left you with old, far and expensive one ( but most people still take it if they can afford it).

My suggestion is:

Have a motivation letter, debt free, copy of your passport or local ID, letter that you are employed or your salary report, recommendation letter from previous landlord or employer. Scan and have a hard copy for all of those.

Go visit the place early or before someone else, fill the form on the spot submit it with all those paper. Or if they want by email fill the form take a pic and attached those document and send it right away.

Good luck for hunting the perfect appartment!