Studios for rent in Switzerland

In Ticino a studio flat is usually listed as a monolocale, or as 1 or 1.5 locali: one main room, a kitchenette or a small separate kitchen, and a bathroom. It's the default first home for people starting a job in Lugano, for anyone living alone, and for a lot of students.

Near USI and SUPSI

USI, the Università della Svizzera italiana, is based mainly in Lugano, with its Academy of Architecture in Mendrisio. SUPSI, the applied sciences university, has campuses in places including Lugano-Viganello, Mendrisio and Locarno. Demand for studios near these sites climbs every summer ahead of the autumn semester, so start looking a few months before term. If you're flexible on location, widen the search: Chiasso and Capolago are a short train ride from Lugano, and since the Ceneri Base Tunnel opened, living in Bellinzona or Giubiasco and studying in Lugano is a manageable daily commute.

Furnished or unfurnished

Furnished studios let you arrive with a suitcase, which helps if you're coming from abroad for a semester or a first contract. They usually cost more, and leases are often fixed-term. Unfurnished ones tend to be cheaper and better for staying a few years, but be warned that "unfurnished" in Switzerland often means no ceiling lights either. Whichever you pick, ask what the service charges cover (heating, hot water, sometimes internet), and get the furniture inventory written into the handover report.

What landlords will ask for

• A recent estratto del registro esecuzioni, the Swiss debt-collection extract.
• Proof of income, or a parent or guarantor who co-signs if you're a student without a salary.
• A deposit of at most three months' rent, paid into a blocked account in your name.

Leaving a studio when your course ends? Post it here for free, no account needed, with up to eight photos. It goes live after a quick automated check and stays up 60 days unless renewed.