Rental deposit (garantie de loyer), pay safely
To verify This page has 1 item that could not be confirmed on an official page. Check them yourself before relying on them:
Not legal advice.
What a rental guarantee is
EPFL Housing: when a lease is signed, a rental guarantee is generally required. It is an amount of one, two, or three months’ rent (maximum) that secures the landlord if there are problems when you leave. You get it back in full if the landlord finds no problem at departure.
Source: EPFL, Rental guarantee and Swiss guarantor
Student halls often state deposits of 1 to 3 months’ rent on EPFL housing pages, see EPFL housing.
Blocked bank account (not the landlord’s personal account)
EPFL: the guarantee must be deposited in a bank account in the tenant’s name. The account is blocked; neither you nor the landlord can take money out without formal notification to the bank.
EPFL quotes Article 2 of the Vaud “Rules and Common practices for letting premises”, referring to art. 257 CO: if the lessor requires a financial guarantee, it shall not exceed three months’ net rent (except commercial premises), provided within 30 days after signature / at latest when you take over the premises, and placed in a bank account in the lessee’s name at a bank in the area.
Withdrawal of part or all of the guarantee needs agreement of both parties or a court decision. If no proceedings within one year after you vacate, the guarantee is released in full (per the EPFL-quoted Vaud rules).
Source: same EPFL, Rental guarantee page
Federal Code of Obligations (Fedlex), art. 257e
On Fedlex, the federal deposit rule is art. 257e CO (not bare “257”). Official English consolidation states, in substance:
- Cash or securities security for residential or commercial premises must be deposited in a bank savings or deposit account in the tenant’s name.
- For residential leases, the landlord may not ask for more than three months’ rent as security.
- The bank may release the security only with both parties’ consent or a final payment order / court decision; after one year from the end of the lease, if the landlord has brought no claim, the tenant may request return from the bank.
- Cantons may enact further provisions.
Source: Fedlex, Code of Obligations, art. 257e (EN consolidation re-checked 5 Oct 2026 via Fedlex EN PDF-a, "Last amended on 1 January 2026")
How this lines up with EPFL: EPFL’s page cites Vaud letting practice under the label “art. 257 CO”. The federal article number on Fedlex is 257e. Details such as net rent, the 30-day provision deadline, and “bank in the area” come from the EPFL-quoted Vaud rules, not from the bare Fedlex 257e text above.
Practical tip: open a Swiss account first (Bank / bank-practical) so you can set up a proper blocked deposit account.
Insurance-style guarantees (instead of cash block)
EPFL notes you can subscribe a guarantee from a security service (examples they name: SwissCaution, FirstCaution, SmartCaution, etc.) instead of blocking cash in a bank account.
Source: same EPFL page
To verify: which product your landlord accepts and the current premium, ask the agency; do not rely on this kit for product pricing.
Swiss guarantor (extra ask for some internationals)
EPFL: estate agencies may require a guarantor domiciled in Switzerland in addition to the rental guarantee, someone who signs and can be pursued if rent is unpaid. Important for non-Swiss residents looking at private agencies.
Source: same EPFL page
Scam / safety checklist (kit + EPFL housing)
- Prefer payment into a Swiss blocked deposit account in your name, not a private foreign account.
- Never pay just to see a place, EPFL scam guidance on EPFL housing.
- Visit if you can; keep written lease terms.