Reply With QuoteWow, all the best, having been offered a job in Vevey recently I have an inkling as to what you must be feeling right now. Enjoy.
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Moving to Switzerland - rental advice?
I'm moving to Switzerland next month after getting a new job.
Anyone lived over there before, visited, any experience of renting?
I'm looking at flats in the Geneva area - looking to spend < €1,300
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Wow, all the best, having been offered a job in Vevey recently I have an inkling as to what you must be feeling right now. Enjoy.
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I've been living here for almost 10 years now, though in the German speaking part, not Geneva.
Firstly, prices are high, especially in Geneva area - all those well paid diplomats... So be prepared for a shock.
For detailed advice on renting, suggest you go to http://www.englishforum.ch/forum.php, they've got several sub-forums, one of which is especially for housing.
Switzerland has got lots of weird rules, especially with renting, where you can easily get caught out. Its not joke that when you leave a rented place, it needs to be absolutely spotless, else they'll charge you extra for cleaning again, etc.
You can check out flats that are available on http://www.homegate.ch/en?a=default&l=default or http://www.immoscout24.ch/IS24Web/_V...-1&lng=en&wl=1
Good luck!
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You lucky bugger, geneva is a wonderful place to live. I was there for 3 years. Everything is very easy transport wise, the trams run until late in the evening. Got a couple of mates who line in planpalais. Central, nice park there and close to the university so some it's a bit more lively. Not sure about prices of flats there now though.Originally Posted by thesaint sfc
I used to live in the cessy, which is across the border in France, about 25 minutes away from central geneva on a scooter. A lot of expat families up in the pays de gex due to CERN. Most expats with families live that way.
I'll speak to my mate as I know he's flat hunting at present.
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Thanks for the advice and links guys. Unfortunately it doesn't look like its going to be as simple as getting in my car, driving there and finding a flat to rent!
Is car insurance generally higher or lower over there? Would I be better exporting my car or buying a new one over there?
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Was the thought of leaving Coventry too much to bear?
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You know i'ld never leave the country without you darling. x
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Nestle one assumes?
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My sister lives in Thoiry, a French village in the Jura foothills just beyond CERN. Very nice standard of living and easy 25 minute commute to central Geneva. Not cheap though. But it's far less congested traffic on that side of Geneva than travelling in from the south-east of Geneva as the roads on that side are bad in rush hour.
She previously rented a reasonable sized modern 2-bed serviced apartment on the road in from CERN about a mile from the centre for about 1300 Euros per month. It was right on the tram route so was pretty good for most things.
My sister drove her UK-plated car for a couple of years but then got hassled by the authorities about it so she bought a French-registered car when she moved to Thoiry.
Geneva can appear expensive but most people get paid a good salary and the taxes are lighter than UK ones.
Last edited by TopGun; 11-08-2012 at 04:53 PM.
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Indirectly yes. But it wasn't the right time, work here is good for the time being and more opportunity will come in time.
What a wonderful place to live in though. thesaint sfc should have a wonderful time out there.
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It depends how long you're planning to stay. I think you can drive it on English plates and licence for a year, but need to convert to Swiss ones after that, which is extra cost (maybe ~CHF 1000?). Buying a car here can also be costly, especially of you don't a) know the language and b) have a rough idea of what things should cost, though at least will be left hand drive...
Suggest you come over with your English car and sort those details out when you've settled in.
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My ex-colleague said you'd be lucky to get something for 1300 EURO in Geneva, not sure of the exchange rate now, guess that's somewhere close to 1500 CHF? He said to have a look on glocals.com or you could also try WRG FM classified. WRG is a local English language radio station.
If you're not that bothered about living in Geneva, France is far cheaper. It was 5 years ago but I had a 4 bed house in Cessy. Ferney Voltaire is on the border and has lots of flats, not as nice as Thoiry, Cessy etc but cheaper and close, has good bus links to Geneva and has Paddys Irish bar :-)
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for 1,400 Euro, should've added that!
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Been there a couple of times. It has some stunning scenery but I found it expensive and dull.
Though I'm sure your wage would reflect the high living costs and with some local knowledge I'm sure you'll be able to find some decent places.
Wish I had a job offer from abroad, getting bored being here again and fancy a change of scenery.
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Yes, my mistake, I meant 1300CHF rather than Euros. 1500CHF is probably a good rate for a 2-bed apartment now.
Last edited by TopGun; 14-08-2012 at 09:27 PM.
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New plans. Going to be working in Geneva and going to live in Annecy which is across the border in France. I've found a very high standard one bedroom flat for €1,150 including all bills - going to rent it (as long as when I get there and look around I'm happy with it) for 6 months. By all means no bargain but seems like a good starting point for me. Once I've familiarised myself with the areas between Annecy and Geneva I should be in a better position to decide where I want to live longer term.
Any experience of mobile networks over there? I'm planning on taking out this contact with swisscom - http://www.swisscom.ch/en/residentia...tariffs.4.html - 89CHF per month (about £65) but includes unlimited calls, texts and internet including calls and texts to the UK. Seems expensive but its a big move and will be worth it for not having to worry about dealing with things back home in the UK.
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Annecy is an excellent choice if a little harder to get to. Again, a lovely town, lake and some life to it. Also close to ski areas in the winter. Mobiles were expensive when I lived there, and it seems they haven't got any better. What's the score with the Internet and calls when you're in France?
Did you try on the pays de gex side to the Jura mountains? Another good alternative is to go Nyon type way up the north side of the lake. That's a lively town or even Lausanne, great train links into geneva.
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