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As a newcomer (Expat, student, etc.) to Geneva, you need to find housing that suits you. That is to say, the accommodation must not only be within your budget, but it must also meet your criteria such as the neighborhood, the number of rooms, the atmosphere, etc. Questions start to arise. How many rooms are there in a 3 room apartment? What is the probability of being chosen for a given apartment? What does "Charges included" mean?
This post is for you who would like to find an apartment in a smart and efficient way.
Are you new to Geneva? This is THE must-read post before any search !
The "Must-Read" series will be presented to you, given its length, in 3 parts. This post is a continuation of the series. Click here if you'd like to see it from the beginning.
List of Things to Know
Click on one of the following items to see the details.
Must Read #1
Must Read #2
Must Read #3
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Real Estate System in Geneva
You have probably heard from your relatives who live in Geneva that the real estate system is quite particular.
What is so special about this system?
Most of the apartments are managed by what is called "la régie".
It is normal that there are several dozen people visiting an apartment.
You would almost never be the only applicant for most apartments.
You have to be lucky to be "chosen" for the apartment you just applied for.
There is no guarantee that you will get the apartment you want even if you have a good job, and therefore a good salary.
You are almost never in direct contact with the owner. In other words, everything is managed through the housing authority.
The housing shortage is the root cause.
"La régie", What is it?
It is a company that acts as a "bridge" between you and the owner. In fact, the owner mandates the real estate agency to free himself from administrative tasks such as the search for candidates, the drafting of the lease contract, etc.
In this case, all communications will be done through the agency. On the other hand, all decisions will be made by the owner, which seems quite logical to us.
What is my chance of being chosen?
The decision is made 100% by the owner. However, the management could eventually make the selection at its level according to the criteria given by the owner.
Therefore, it is important to prepare a good application file so that you can at least pass the first screening. Then, you just have to pray to be chosen by the owner.
Why is it so difficult to find housing in Geneva?
The housing shortage is the cause. The demand is therefore too high in relation to the supply. In other words, the housing is occupied immediately as soon as it is vacated by the former tenant. The statistics show that the vacancy rate has never exceeded 0.6% for more than 10 years.
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