Moving house in Switzerland: how do you declutter and plan the move?

When you move house in Switzerland, you usually give three months' notice on your flat to a locally customary moving date, in many cantons the end of March, June or September. Start decluttering six to eight weeks before the move: sell or give away what is still in good condition, then donate the rest or dispose of it under your municipality's rules. After moving in, register with your new municipality, within 14 days in most cantons.

Key points

• Notice for a flat: at least three months to a locally customary date (Art. 266c of the Code of Obligations, CO), unless your tenancy agreement says otherwise.
• Dates differ: the city of Zurich uses the end of March and September, the city of Bern the end of April and October.
• Bulky waste costs money, depending on the municipality: fee stickers, a weight-based charge at the recycling centre, or collection on request.
• Any shop that sells electrical appliances must take back the same type for free, even if you buy nothing.
• Registering at your new address: within 14 days in most cantons, within 8 days in Vaud and Ticino.

Moving dates and giving notice

Your tenancy agreement comes first. Many agreements allow notice to the end of any month except December. If yours does not, the customary dates of your municipality apply; where there are none, you give notice to the end of a three-month rental period (Art. 266c CO).

1. Give notice in writing: a signed letter (Art. 266l CO). For a family home, your spouse or registered partner must expressly consent; the safest option is for both of you to sign (Art. 266m CO).
2. Send it in time: the notice must reach your landlord before the notice period starts, so by 30 June at the latest for the end of September. Send it by registered post a few days early.
3. Moving out early: outside the notice dates, you are released if you put forward a suitable, solvent replacement tenant willing to take over the lease on the same terms (Art. 264 CO). Otherwise you owe rent until the next regular date.
4. Time off: employees are entitled to the customary days off (Art. 329 para. 3 CO); in practice one day is usual for a move, and your employment contract or collective agreement may set the details.

Declutter: sell, give away, donate or dispose

Go room by room: anything unused for a year, or that will not fit in your new home, goes.

1. Sell

• Start early, especially with furniture, appliances and bikes.
• Be realistic: used furniture often fetches only a fraction of its new price, and mass-produced pieces far less than designer ones. For guidance, see Pricing second-hand items.
• State the dimensions, condition, floor, whether there is a lift and the collection deadline. Tips on photos and text: Writing a good ad.
• Lower the price shortly before the move: CHF 50 is better than a bulky waste fee.

2. Give away

Things that would fetch almost nothing but still work can go for free: an old sofa, plants, toys, books or leftover building materials. In the Free Stuff category, someone will often come and collect. Write "collect by 27 March" and do not hold items indefinitely: whoever misses the agreed time loses their place. Asked to open a link or enter details for a free item? Stop: spotting scams.

3. Donate

Charity second-hand shops (Brockenhaus, brocante) and aid organisations often accept clothes, crockery, books and small furniture. Ask first whether they collect large items.

4. Dispose

• Bulky waste: furniture, mattresses or rugs that do not fit into the official fee bag. Depending on the municipality, you need fee stickers, pay by weight at the recycling centre or book a paid collection. Details are in your municipality's waste calendar.
• Electrical devices: never in household waste. Under the Swiss ordinance on electrical equipment (VREG/OREA), every retailer must take back the types of devices it sells free of charge, even without a new purchase. There are also SENS and Swico collection points. Wipe your data first.

Checklist: moving step by step

Three months before

• Give notice or find a replacement tenant; flat hunting tips: Renting without being scammed.
• Get quotes from removal firms, or book helpers and a van.

One to two months before

• Declutter: sell, give away, donate.
• Switch electricity, internet and insurance (household contents, personal liability) to the new address.
• If needed, reserve a space for the van (temporary parking ban) via the municipality or police, usually for a fee.

Two to four weeks before

• Set up mail forwarding with Swiss Post and send your new address to your bank, health insurer, employer and subscriptions.
• Book a bulky waste collection or a trip to the recycling centre, and arrange the final cleaning.

Moving day and after

• Handover: the landlord must inspect the flat and report any defects you are liable for straight away (Art. 267a CO). Read the handover report before you sign it.
• Register with the new municipality and update your dog's registration.
• Rent deposit: the bank releases it with both parties' consent, or at your sole request if, within a year of the tenancy ending, the landlord has not asserted a claim through legal proceedings such as debt enforcement or a lawsuit (Art. 257e CO).

Registering with your new municipality

In most cantons, including Zurich and Geneva, you must register with the residents' office within 14 days of moving in. Vaud and Ticino require it within 8 days. Many municipalities let you report your departure and arrival online through eMovingCH (eUmzugCH); otherwise go to the counter with your ID, your tenancy agreement and, depending on the municipality, other documents. Foreign nationals may face additional rules, such as needing a permit to change canton.

With a car or motorbike: report your new address to the road traffic office within 14 days. If you move to another canton, you get new number plates and a new vehicle registration document from your new canton.

Removal firm or do it yourself?

• Compare quotes: get at least three written quotes after a viewing; check flat or hourly rate, travel, packing, assembly and insurance.
• Rough figures: for a 3.5-room flat within the same region, quotes are often around CHF 1200 to 2500, depending on volume, floor, lift and distance; final cleaning with a handover guarantee often adds CHF 700 to 1300.
• Doing it yourself: a category B driving licence covers vans up to 3.5 tonnes gross weight. Line up enough helpers and book early.
• Finding help: in Moving & Transport, look for removal services or post an ad for helpers. Only sign a written quote.

How swissmax helps you declutter

• Free ads: standard ads are free. How long they run depends on the category: 60 days by default, less in some categories such as Free Stuff, and you can renew before they expire. To post, you need a verified phone number and an identity check.
• "Free" price type: when creating an ad, choose "Free" instead of a price. Search results can be filtered for free items.
• "Pickup Only": for furniture and large appliances, state that the item must be collected.
• "Urgent" label: the paid Urgent boost shows an "Urgent" label on your ad for 24 hours, handy just before moving day. The price is shown before you buy.
• For your new home: search alerts tell you about new matching ads by email or push. You can sort saved ads into lists such as "Furniture for the flat" and share them via a link.

For safe collections from your home, see the guide How to buy and sell safely and the safety tips. For boosts and ads, see the FAQ.

Frequently asked questions

When are the moving dates in Switzerland?

It depends on the canton and municipality. The end of March, June and September are common; the city of Zurich uses the end of March and September, the city of Bern the end of April and October.

How soon do I have to register after moving?

Within 14 days of arrival in most cantons, and within 8 days in Vaud and Ticino. Deregister with your old municipality too, in many places online through eMovingCH.

How much does bulky waste disposal cost?

Each municipality sets its own charges: stickers by weight or item, a fee at the recycling centre, or a collection charge. Check your municipality's website. Giving things away is often cheaper.

Where can I return old electrical appliances for free?

At any shop that sells that type of device, even without a purchase, and at SENS and Swico collection points. Disposal is usually already paid for through the advance recycling fee.

Last updated: November 2026. Deadlines, dates and fees are given without guarantee; your tenancy agreement, the Code of Obligations and the rules of your canton and municipality prevail.