Frequently asked questions

Yes. Always apply for your dream property, regardless of your circumstances. Please note the following: students only qualify for a tenancy if they are in receipt of an income or if they have a rent guarantor who is domiciled in Switzerland. Don’t hesitate to contact us for help with finding accommodation.

Tip: Have you looked into the student halls that the ETH and other universities provide for their students?

It is very important to us that you will feel at home in your new rental property, and viewing a property is the best way to get a good sense of its interior, location and surrounding area.

The property/key has to be handed back by 12:00 on the day following the date on which the rental agreement ended. The date and time will be agreed with the current and new tenant.

When handing back the property, it should be in the same condition as it was when initially handed over and should have been cleaned throughout. Any items or objects in the rented property that have been changed (e.g. painted walls) have to be returned to their original condition.

Our checklist contains all of the most important information about cleaning your property before handing it back.

Every property has a dedicated caretaker who looks after the maintenance of the property’s facilities. Please observe the house rules to help in keeping the property clean and tidy for the benefit of all residents

The floors will be regularly cleaned by the caretaker. Keeping the rest of the laundry room and the machines (washing machine, tumble dryer and dehumidifier) inside it clean is the responsibility of those using it. Tenants are required to leave the room and the machines they have used in a clean state after use. If users fail to do so, we recommend speaking to and reminding them.

Replacing an older household appliance (oven, refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine etc.) may initially appear the right solution for energy consumption. However, when the resources required to manufacture the appliances are taken into account, replacing an appliance that is still functional is usually not worthwhile. 

If a household appliance breaks down, we weigh up whether repairs make sense in the long term or if replacing the appliance is more appropriate. The nature of the defect, environmental and economic factors and the cost of purchasing a new appliance are taken into account in making this decision.  

Incidentally, you’ll find useful energy-saving tips on our website. After all, you can also save energy with appliances that are a little older. 

In principle, it is possible to connect a plug-in solar panel system inside a balcony (on the wall or inside the railings). The building envelope must not be damaged in the process. 

We are happy to clarify with owners whether and under which conditions a plug-in solar panel system is desired or permitted on the outside of balconies on the property, and get back to you.

With regard to plug-in solar panel systems, please always note the following: As a tenant, you yourself are responsible and liable for the system's installation, correct operation, maintenance, dismantling and any reconstruction of its original condition. You are also fully responsible for additional costs incurred by the plug-in solar panel system.

Due to rising energy prices, we are expecting a significant increase in ancillary costs. A conclusive estimate of anticipated ancillary costs is not currently possible as price trends for gas and oil remain volatile. 

Please note that your monthly payment on account is not based on current costs. Higher energy prices therefore do not impact your payments on account, and only affect the annual billing of actual ancillary costs.

We are monitoring current developments with regard to energy supply and evaluating various energy-saving options. These may be established depending on the location and condition of the specific property and in consultation with the owners. No specific decisions have yet been made in this regard at present. 

In general, living costs consist of rent, ancillary costs (heating, hot water, property maintenance etc.) and private living costs (private electricity, Internet etc.). Energy costs are not part of the monthly rent, but are billed as part of the ancillary costs, i.e. energy price rises are reflected in your bill for ancillary costs, but not in your rent. For your electricity, you have a direct contract with your local electricity provider. As private living costs, these are separate from your rent and ancillary costs. 

We recommend monitoring the current situation and increasing your payments on account or building up reserves where possible. Should you wish to increase your payments on account, this is possible in principle. We are happy to help you estimate the anticipated additional cost. We have provided information on this which is being updated accordingly in light of the current situation.