Housing types
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It is difficult, if not impossible, to find accommodation from abroad. On the one hand, it is better to see the object with his own eyes and on the other hand, the lessor (or the sub-lessor in the context of a sublease) will always want to meet the person who is supposed to occupy his accommodation.
To be able to personally visit the accommodation that you will rent during your stay, you will have to find accommodation as soon as you arrive!
If you have a job or an internship position with an international organization, a consulate, a permanent mission or an NGO registered with the State of Geneva and you are looking for an apartment or a room to rent :
Register for free on CAGI’s housing platform !
Be extremely suspicious of tempting accommodation offers, often with supporting photos, asking you to pay an advance to visit or reserve a property. Do not make any money transfers before you have been able to visit the property and draw up a proper lease agreement.
There are different research tools and methods, between print media, internet platform and networking.
Housing where to look?
On the Internet :
Group and forum :
- glocals.com (forum only in English),
- Facebook Geneva EXPATS information group for expats in Geneva.
Controls :
Hurry :
- “Tout l’immobilier” (Mondays),
- “Immobilier” paper supplement from the Tribune de Genève (Tuesdays),
- “GHI” (Wednesdays, free newspaper).
You can consult the list of intermediaries for furnished accommodation , with the Geneva authorities; practical solution to benefit from short-term accommodation as soon as you arrive in Geneva.
Ad and exchange platforms :
Please note : the most affordable solutions are often booked months in advance. Forget the attractive offers, which ask you to pay a deposit against the sending of the keys from another country for example. This type of scam is very common. Be careful with proposals from the students.ch site.
Good to know : The monthly rent for a room can vary between CHF 700.- and CHF 1,200.- depending on the district, the standing of the building, the furnishings, whether or not there is access to common areas and s there are private amenities.
A guarantee is often requested, it is recommended not to give this amount in cash, but to ask your bank to establish a bank guarantee or a bond with insurance in favor of the lessor.
Below are some references when it comes to finding student accommodation :
- regimo.ch (furnished accommodation: residence of the Alps and residence of the Pénates),
- directory of residences of the Geneva Association for the Accommodation of Apprentices and Students (AGLAE),
- University campus (Cité Universitaire),
- Grand Morillon student residence in the Nations district,
- University of Geneva (housing office),
- The Welcome Center facilitates the settlement of future employees of its institutions (UNIGE/HUG/HES) and their families in the region.
- Housing cooperative for people in training (CIGUE),
- Roomea student housing, first student housing site in French-speaking Switzerland.
Become a member of an association or network to facilitate your stay :
- Geneva Intern Association (GIA) : association of trainees working within international organizations in Geneva,
- glocals.com : expatriate community organizing various activities,
- The Geneva EXPATS Facebook group is also a very popular research place.
Before finding fixed accommodation for the period of your stay, you can also stay at a hotel :
- discover a list of hotels from 1 to 3 stars in the canton of Geneva,
- also browse the Geneva Tourism website to select the hotel of your choice.
Other useful information for accommodation
Research process
Housing platform
Housing primarily for internationals
Subletting contract
Contact the CAGI
Founded by the Swiss Confederation and the Republic and Canton of Geneva, the International Geneva Welcome Centre is the single entry point for the support and integration of employees of International Geneva and their families, NGOs and visiting delegates.