A home search service switzerland employers commission is a paid support line for one task: finding a rental home for a transferee who still lives abroad. The specialist shortlists properties, arranges viewings, prepares the application and checks the lease before signature. This page sets out what that covers, what stays with your employee, and how the cost is usually split under your policy.
What a home search service covers
The service starts from a brief. Your transferee's household, budget, commute, schooling and arrival date go to the specialist. The specialist then works through the local market for that brief.
Typical scope:
- A needs interview with your employee, often by video, before any search begins.
- A shortlist of properties that match the brief.
- Viewings, in person or by video when your employee is still abroad.
- Help with the rental application file.
- A review of the lease terms and the handover inspection.
Scope varies by provider and by package. Ask for it in writing before you commit. Your policy decides which parts you fund and which parts the employee funds.
What the service does not do
The specialist does not grant anything. The landlord or the managing agent (régie) decides who gets a tenancy. A good service improves the quality of the application. It cannot promise an outcome.
Nor does it replace immigration work. Permits are granted by the authorities, and a separate immigration support service covers that track. Housing and permits run in parallel, and each one affects the timing of the other.
How the search runs, step by step
Brief the specialist early. The market moves quickly in the larger cities, and a late brief shortens the time available for viewings.
A rental application in Switzerland is a file, not a form. It usually includes identity documents, proof of income or an employer letter, and an extract from the debt enforcement register (Betreibungsregisterauszug). A person who has never lived in Switzerland has no such extract, so the specialist advises on what the landlord will accept instead. You can test a draft file with the rental file checker.
What it costs the employee
Pricing for the service itself comes from the provider and is agreed in your contract with them. This site does not publish provider fees. What matters for your policy is who bears each cost.
Cost items usually split into three groups:
- Service fee. Paid by the employer in a managed package. Paid by the employee in a lump sum package, out of the allowance.
- Rent and running costs. Always the tenant's, whatever your housing allowance. Check whether your policy tops up the rent or pays it directly.
- Move-in costs. The rental deposit and any agency charges that the lease sets. These fall on the tenant unless your policy says otherwise.
For orientation, the average net rent excluding charges for tenant households was CHF 1,485 per month in 2024 (Federal Statistical Office, FSO). This is a national average across all dwelling sizes. A family home in a major city will cost more, so do not budget from it alone. The wider budget is in employee relocation costs.
Decide the split before the search begins. A transferee who learns late that the deposit is not covered tends to take the first property offered. That is a poor outcome for both sides.
Doing it yourself or using an agent
Some transferees search alone. This works best when the employee has local contacts, a flexible start date and time to travel. It works poorly when the household is large, the start date is fixed or the city is competitive.
An agent adds the most value in three situations:
- The employee cannot travel before arrival.
- The employer needs a result by a set date.
- A group of employees moves at the same time. See group relocation for how that changes the planning.
For a wider view of what a relocation provider does, read what a relocation agent is and the overview of relocation services in Switzerland.
After the lease is signed
The housing work does not end at signature. Within the commune's deadline, your employee must register on arrival. The commonly cited deadline is 14 days, but it can vary by commune, so confirm it locally (ch.ch). The employee brings an identity document, the permit and proof of health insurance.
Health insurance is a separate duty. A person who takes up residence in Switzerland must take out basic health insurance within three months. If the deadline is met, cover is backdated to the date of residence (Federal Office of Public Health, FOPH). Plan this alongside the move, not after it. The settling-in service usually handles these first steps.
If the temporary stay comes first, see the temporary housing service. If the transferee has children, the school search service should start at the same time as the housing search, because the two decisions depend on each other.
Questions to ask before you hire
- What exactly is in the package, and what is charged on top?
- Who is the single contact for the employee?
- How are viewings run when the employee is abroad?
- What happens if the first shortlist does not fit?
- When does the service end: at signature, at handover or after registration?
To describe your case and be put in touch with a suitable relocation company, use the request at the bottom of the page.
Frequently asked questions
What is a home search service?
It is a paid service in which a specialist finds rental housing for your transferee. The specialist shortlists, arranges viewings and prepares the application. The landlord still makes the final decision.
Who pays for the home search service?
That depends on your policy. In a managed package the employer normally pays the service fee. In a lump sum package the employee pays it from the allowance. Agree this in writing first.
Does the service include paying the rent?
No. Rent is the tenant's obligation. Your housing allowance may cover part of it, but the lease is between your employee and the landlord.
How much does the typical tenant pay in rent?
The average net rent excluding charges was CHF 1,485 per month for tenant households in 2024 (Federal Statistical Office, FSO). It is a national average across all sizes of dwelling, so local rents differ.
Can an agent guarantee a tenancy?
No. The landlord or the managing agent selects the tenant. A specialist strengthens the application but cannot promise an outcome.
Can the search start before the employee arrives?
Yes. Shortlisting and video viewings can take place while your employee is abroad. Many employers start as soon as the move is confirmed.
What documents does the application usually need?
Identity documents, proof of income or an employer letter, and a debt enforcement register extract. The exact list is set by the landlord. A newcomer without a Swiss record should ask what substitute is accepted.
Does the service cover the lease review?
Most packages include it, but not all do. Ask the provider whether the lease is explained before signature and whether the handover inspection is attended.
What must the employee do after moving in?
Register with the commune. The commonly cited deadline is 14 days, but it can vary by commune (ch.ch). The employee also needs basic health insurance within three months of taking up residence (Federal Office of Public Health, FOPH).
When is a home search service not worth it?
When the employee has local contacts, a flexible start date and time to travel, a self-managed search can work. The more fixed the date and the larger the household, the stronger the case for an agent.
How do I get matched with a provider?
Send a home search request with the destination, start date and household size. The request is reviewed and, depending on the need, you are put in touch with a suitable company. See also request relocation support.