Where can we find an appartment in ZH!!! Are the Swiss just plain predijuce?

Question

Hi Joe,

Thanks for the response firstly, the language is not a problem, my husband is German and I have a good understanding of German and even a bit of Swiss German. We've been looking in Zurich city, I live in Seefeld (flatshare) and he in Kreis 6 (flatshare) we more or less looking in the same vicinity as far out as Witikon, Wollishoffen or Romehof those kinds of areas. We have been looking for 3 months. Seen well over 20 places (ones worth looking at) applied for no less than 15 got back 4 written responses and the rest we had to follow up with telephone calls to find out what was happening. We got told we too young (28/32), it's a family orientated building, no students wanted (my husband is doing his Phd, I'm completing my studies but am also working full time child physchology) and the best was "we thought you were Swiss" ...still can't make head or tail of that answer. Anyway I am totally frustrated after almost 4months!!!

Answer 1

im sorry to hear that, I have also had alot of troubles trying to rent, buy and sell houses in switzerland. It really is hard, especially if your are a student etc.

-i found my house at auction, try it, they cant turn you down if you win the bid

-however if you are looking to rent then that is impossible, it can be very hard to find and successfully rent a house/flat, there are long chains of buyers and sellers conected to your buy and if one falls through, the chain collapses, espcially in switzerland. :(

-scan all the newspapers daily and let all your friends know you are lookign for a flat, but i am sure you are already doing that ;)

-i have had a quick look on the internet and found some companies that maybe could help:

http://www.immoscout24.ch/IS24Web/Search...

http://www.apartments-swiss-star.ch/v2/i...

http://www.pabs.ch/e/search.asp

http://www.sublet.com/city_rentals/Zuric...

companies are bound by law to be unbiased and treat every customer equal, private sellers are not, however i have never  tried the ones listed above, so make sure that they a legitimate etc.

Im sorry that i could not really help you that much, I really hope it works out for you guys!!!

Answer 2

If possible, have a Swiss family get the apartment for you.

When I lived there, the Doctor I worked for rented my apartment for me then I paid him for it.  It makes sense--

would you want to rent an apartment to a foreigner you

know nothing about who might leave the country at any time?

Answer 3

It all depends on when and for how long you will need it.As long as you have the right permissions to stay here legally,it shouldn't be that difficult. I disagree about the prejudice part , having been here for 20 years as an Asian lady, it was not difficult at all to find a decent apartment to rent. If it were for a short stay, there are apartments being advertised in the local papers for quite a reasonable rate, for an expensive city. But of course, what they call the " Vitamin B " meaning connections are surely the fastest way to land your dream apartment. Good luck!

Answer 4

If you really think Swiss people are prejudice, STAY HOME.