Apartments for rent in Switzerland

Swiss listings count rooms differently from most countries. A "3.5 locali" (3.5 rooms) flat in Ticino usually means a living room, two bedrooms and an eat-in kitchen, which counts as the half room; bathrooms and hallways don't count at all. Always check the floor area too, because two 3.5-room flats can differ a lot in size.

Moving to Ticino from abroad or across the border

If you're coming from outside Switzerland, the permit you'll get depends on your nationality and your job, and it's usually issued after you register with your new commune, lease in hand. Until then, an employment contract shows a landlord you're good for the rent. The cantonal migration authorities can tell you what applies to you. Cross-border workers who already commute from Italy and are thinking about moving over should also look into the tax side and Swiss health insurance before signing, since both change once your domicile is in Switzerland. In the Mendrisiotto, Mendrisio, Chiasso and Stabio keep you close to the border and on TILO lines towards Como and Varese. The Moesano, just across the cantonal line in Graubünden, is another option: Roveredo and Grono sit a short drive from Bellinzona.

Leaving a flat

• Notice for an apartment is at least three months, and only for the termination dates in your contract or, if it names none, the local customary dates.
• Want out sooner? You can propose a replacement tenant who is solvent and willing to take over the lease on the same terms.
• If the flat is the family home, a tenant's notice needs the spouse's written consent.
• Give notice in writing and keep proof of when it arrived.

Apartments here run from compact 2.5-room flats in Lugano to 5.5-room family homes in the valleys, in Ticino and in the German- and French-speaking cities alike. If you're letting one yourself, posting is free with up to eight photos, and a listing stays up for 60 days unless you renew it.