Housing
Flat hunting will be different if you are searching for a short time place or long term (1 year minimum) housing.
In all cases, please be careful not to send any money in advance to book an apartment/house as you can be scammed on the internet. Finding a place in Geneva can take a bit longer as opposed to France (up to 2 months).
https://atlas-secretariat.web.cern.ch//housing
If you come from a US or a Canadian institute, don’t hesitate to ask for help :
I am in the ATLAS secretariat, building 40, 4th floor, D01 tel 73449, alexia.leyval@cern.ch
I can help you to find accommodation, set up the security deposit, for all utilities and house insurance
PRICE RANGE FOR LONG TERM RENTAL APARTMENTS
| Type of Flat rental | Prices in FRANCE (EUR) | Prices in SWITZERLAND (CHF) |
| Room to Share | 650-850 | 850-1200 |
| Studio | 850-1000 | 1150-1450 |
| 1 Bed Apt | 1100-1350 | 1500-1650 |
| 2 Bed Apt | 1250-1650 | 1800-2200 |
| 3 Bed Apt | 1500-2000 | 2300-3500 |
| House (3/4 Rooms) | 2800-4500 | 4500-8000 |
Prices vary depending on the location + if it is furnished (more expansive)
LIST OF USEFUL LINKS TO FIND HOUSING
LIST OF PAPERS TO PROVIDE FOR A FLAT APPLICATION
For France
Copy of Passport
Completed Agency form
CERN attestation available on EDH
Working contract including salary or letter from your Instiution with your salary
You need to earn 3 times the amount of the monthly rental fee.
For Geneva
Copy of Passport
Completed Agency form
CERN attestation available on EDH
Working contract including salary or letter from your Instiution with your salary
Non-debt certificate (certificat de non poursuite), that you can get at the OCP for 20CHF
Demander un extrait du registre des poursuites | ge.ch
You need to earn 3.5 times the amount of the monthly rental fees.
JURIDICAL HELP IN CASE OF PROBLEMS WITH YOUR ONWER – AGENCY
You can get in touch with this free association for France ADIL de l’Ain | (adil01.org)
You can get in touch with this free association for Switzerland Accueil | ASLOCA
WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO WHEN YOU MOVE IN
-After finding a place you will sign the lease with the agency or the owner. In both countries you will have to request house insurance.
-When you sign the lease you will have to pay the first month, the security deposit : 1 month for an unfurnished place and 2 months for furnished places + agency fees if you go through an agency, (60% of 1 month fees).
-In Switzerland the security deposit is 3 months to be blocked on a special bank account, you can also make the deposit throught Smartcaution which avoid you paying this amount : SmartCaution
-Then you will have to open a bank account to set up utilities.
-Once this is done, utilities under your name can be settled, electricity, gas, water and Internet.
-When you are moving into you new place, make sure your name is on your mailbox so you can receive post.
-When you move in France, your agency or owner will register you at the tax office and you will have to pay once a year “living tax” which is roughly 2/3 of the monthly fees of your place.
WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO WHEN YOU LEAVE
-In Switzerland the leases are usually for 1 year and departure notice is 3 months before the lease anniversary date, unless if you find someone to replace you. In France Llases are for 1 year or more, but you can leave when you want with 1 month notice.
-Notice departures must be sent by post as a registered letter to the agency or the owner.
-Cancelation letters must be sent to all utilities and insurance companies to stop the services for you.
-On the day of check-out you will have to take the water, gas and electricity reading meters to stop the services.
-In France you will have to pay your living tax before departure.
-A very deep cleaning is asked when you leave. See below the cleaning request.
*If you have any problems with the agency or the landloard, there are some organisations to help you dealing with those issues : Renters defense in France : www.Adil.fr — in Switzerland : Asloca
CLEANING REQUESTS
Both French and Swiss agencies and owners are very careful with the cleaning of their places when people arrive AND leave. Be aware that your security deposit can be kept if the apartment is not clean enough when you leave it. Take some pictures of the place when you arrive and it must be in the same state when you leave, especially the kitchen and bathroom.
Cleaning Companies in France
Femme de Ménage à Domicile Saint Genis Pouilly ✨ Shiva
Cleaning Companies in Switzerland
| YANEZ.CH – ACCUEIL José Ameal petits travaux Tel : 00 41 78 618 23 97 | |
| E-mail jose.ameal@petits-travaux.ch |