If you own a house or an apartment here, it will almost certainly be worth quite a lot of money so naturaly you need to look after it. If as the owner you feel this is best served by having tenents who don't smoke or don't have dogs, or no kids, then so be it.

The landlord has the right to chose a tennent with these qualities. With the exception of large pets, ie big dogs, if you decide to start smoking or making babies after you have an agreement, there is not too much he can do.

One ruse they will use is by stating they need it for a family member and give you your notice.

As a landlord you are not so disadvantaged as in the UK and it is not so difficult in Switzerland to have somebody removed. You can give your notice, the landlord can give his notice, it's quite fair for both parties.

As a foreigner, in certain areas you will be disadvantaged, places like central Switzerland or UDP strong holds, lets not be naive, As a coloured or Asiatic person you will also be at a certain disadvantage, the Swiss are rather nationalistic, thus they lean towards racism. (If you ask a Swiss person where they come from, they usualy will say "I'm from Zurich or whatever canton in Switerland)

Face it, this is life, the landlord is going to take the easiest option which best protects his investment and there's not much you can do about it.

As for Simons' coments about maximum rents, no such thing, i can rent my house for whatever i can get somebody to pay for it; if you sign the agreement, then it's legal and valid. However I cannot throw you out in order to re-rent to soembody else at a far higher rent. Anything over 10% is considered far higher unless you can prove significant improvements have been made between tenants. Think new kitchen, new bathroom, complete renovation (with appropriate bills as justification)