HouseScoutApartment search help for relocating to Zurich
Finding a flat is usually the hardest part of moving to Zurich. You don't know the areas yet, viewings happen during working hours and applications need Swiss documents you may not have yet. With a Full Search, HouseScout runs the search for you, from the first shortlist to signing the lease.
What makes Zurich hard for newcomers
Vacancy in Zurich is very low and good flats go within hours. Newcomers also face a learning curve: rooms are counted differently (a 3.5-room flat usually has two bedrooms and a living room), rents vary a lot between areas, and property managers decide on the strength of your application file.
Kreis 3, 4 and 5 are central and in demand; Oerlikon, North Zurich and the towns around the lake often offer more space for the same budget. Knowing where your budget works is half the battle.
What a Full Search includes
We start by agreeing your brief: budget, rooms, areas, move-in date and what really matters to you. We then search continuously on the major Swiss portals and in local housing groups and send you a shortlist of 5 to 20 suitable properties.
We attend viewings for up to 3 of them, with photos, videos and honest feedback, prepare up to 3 application files and guide you until you sign the lease.
Clear pricing
A Full Search costs CHF 390 to start, paid before the search begins. If you sign a lease for a property HouseScout found or proposed, a success fee applies; you get the details before you pay. No lease, no success fee. HouseScout is not VAT-registered, so no VAT is added.
What to prepare
Property managers expect a complete file: passport or ID and residence permit (or proof it's on the way), employment contract or recent payslips, a recent debt register extract and, if you have one, a reference from your current landlord. We tell you exactly what's missing and put the file together with you.
Budget for the rental deposit as well: up to three months' rent, held in a blocked account or covered by a deposit insurance.
How the search runs
After you start, we agree your brief on a short call and check where your budget works. You get the first suitable flats within days, then new proposals as soon as they appear.
You choose which flats we view. After each viewing you get photos, videos and our honest assessment. When a flat fits, we submit a complete application with you so you make a strong first impression on the property manager.
How long it takes depends mostly on budget, areas and move-in date. The more flexible you are on one of them, the wider the choice. We tell you openly if your brief is hard to meet in Zurich and suggest alternatives, such as well-connected areas with less competition.
Prefer to search yourself?
Radar emails you every new flat that fits your brief, the best within minutes, for CHF 39 for 15 days or CHF 59 for 30 days. And if you can't attend a particular viewing, we'll go for you with a Scout Visit for CHF 100.
Our three services
- Radar: every new flat that fits your brief, by email. The best within minutes, with a price check. CHF 39 for 15 days or CHF 59 for 30 days.
- Scout Visit: we view a flat for you and send photos, a video and a written report the same day. CHF 100 per property.
- Full Search: we run your whole search, from shortlist to signing. CHF 390 to start, success fee only if you sign a lease.
Frequently asked questions
How much does apartment search help cost in Zurich?
A Full Search costs CHF 390 to start. A success fee applies only if you sign a lease for a home we found; you get the details before you pay.
Is the CHF 390 deducted from the success fee?
No. The CHF 390 covers the search; the success fee is separate and only due if you sign a lease.
Can you guarantee I'll find a flat?
No one can honestly guarantee that. We do the work and improve your chances with a strong shortlist, viewings and well-prepared applications.
Can I start before I arrive in Switzerland?
Yes. Many clients start before they move; we attend viewings on site and keep you updated with photos, videos and reports.
Do you cover Geneva too?
Yes, Full Search is available in Zurich and Geneva, including the surrounding towns.