I've been in the process of searching for suitable apartments in Winterthur for the last few weeks now. I saw one I adored on Monday and put together an application package with a letter of introduction, app. form, credit reports from the US, EU, and CH for the missus and I. I thought it best to visit the agency that was renting the place, to have a chat and try create a good impression when handing in my application. Overall, I was quite happy with how that went, the person I talked to was pleasant and positive.

I was a little surprised by the questions she asked me though, which I felt were a little personal for an apartment application. Which included:
Is your wife pregnant? Do you intend to have kids?
Why do you speak English? (I didn't, she started the conversation in English, so I continued doing so)
Can you speak German? ('I can for daily activities', I proudly replied in German)
What visa type do you have? How much do you earn?
Is your wife European? (I'm not, so I got the impression that they didn't really want non-EUs)

I was annoyed at the end of it all when she said she's waiting for more applications to come in and would keep us informed within the next few days. This woman now knew me better than I knew myself, and this was the thanks I got? While I can understand the reasoning behind the questions, and tailored my responses to please the agency (because I'm desperate for a castle), I can't imagine that they are legal to ask. So my question is, are they?

Has anyone else had any interesting apartment application interviews?

P.S. I you know of anyone looking to rent their place in Winti I'd appreciate a heads up.

Hi there!

Usually you state your income in the application letter, plus the adress of your employer, so that part is quite normal. Some appartments require a basic understanding of German so that you understand the house rules and can communicate with the caretaker and the neighbours who often don't speak any English, but it doesn't really make an expats life easier I guess.
It's not really usual that they ask if your wife is pregnant, but they'd still try to find out, because most places have a certain target group of people (ie. families, young professionals, older couples etc.) and they don't want a noisy young family. move into a house that is full of quiet tenants.
As for the legal question, I guess these questions are indeed legal, but would be considered discriminatory elsewhere.

Appartment application meetings/interviews are common, please do not take it as an offence, though I admit a cultural shock at the way the procedures are done can exist.
The person just did his job a sper the check list, you see once the place is rented, and the taker of the place defaults in rent, it takes a long time to make him vacate, type of visa is required, as long term rental is not allowed to persons who have no right to be domiciled etc.
Best wishes and welcome to CH

yes it is normal. They rather give it to someone who they will now is not gonna leave the country after or during the agreement is up.


On another note :have you ever been to a gerance where they are friendly

@Simon_CH

Hi there,

I guess people get asked those questions in a discreet wait at pretty much every interview(work, child's schooling, for me at the airport security, etc..).

I was surprised at how direct they were though, it was just BAM "Is your wife pregnant?"

Might have been a language barrier forcing the woman to be direct. I like it

@Anthony1406

Actually, everybody been pretty friendly and the rental agencies here. Not USA friendly, or UK polite, but in their own off-handish Swiss way. I do appreciate they try to serve me in English. Though I usually start off in German, maybe my German is terrible.

At the present time, it's very much a sellers' market and there are plenty of buyers out their. So by not answering the questions or taking the hump, it's not the landlord who going to cry.

Just a note about the pregnancy thing...

My husband (who is Swiss) and I were under the impression that it would be easier finding a new place to live as a family, but seems to be just the opposite. We've been searching for a little over 4 months and the questions you mentioned are very common place. It seems the Swiss (especially the elderly) like to complain about any noise a baby or child will make. During a few of our interviews they seemed quite interested until they discovered I am pregnant. Most landlords are looking for 1 person, who's never home (or as quiet as mouse 24x7) and has a very high paying job.

Between the single Zürich banker pulling in well over 6,000sfr a month and the mechanic making a little over 4,000sfr together with a pregnant wife (or kids) who's currently not working... who would you pick?

BTW... after looking at over 25 apartments, due beginning of April and visiting at least 1-2 apartments on a daily basis, we still have not been accepted.

all pretty standard questions, when we applied for the place we are in now (we have a dog and a son) the landlady asked the other people in the building if they where ok with that and they gave us a set of rules.

totally different from the uk where you choose the place, here the landlord chooses you, and makes sure you know they are doing you the favour!!

Don't put all your eggs in one basket, view and apply for as many places as possible as there will be plenty of people (if the place is half decent) applying for the place, and if a swissy applies then you'll have no chance.

@Puhutes

I guessed as much at the Pregnancy question. I lied through my teeth about that one, while we're not expecting to have kids for at least another half decade I said

"We're very career oriented people, we have just started amazing jobs, and have no plans for kids."

I'm thinking of knocking the missus up if we get the contract, just to spite them and the cranky old neighbours who tend to forget they were kids themselves once. It's the middle of the bloody city (at least where we're looking), it's never quiet!

Haha, that's what you have to do.
"Mr. ####, a young person like you surely likes to party sometimes, and listen to a bit of music right ?
"Me ? Ah no, I despise music, and partying is a waste of money, I much rather read a book at home and try not to be noisy when flipping pages."

write landlady a letter as follows:

Dear X

After careful consideration we have decided to reject you as our potential landlady. While we found the apartment excellent we had a few issues of a personal nature:

1. Your English was poor, it is the world international language and we wonder about the general education of a person who does not speak it.
2. You seemed to be pregnant. While we did not want to query this, we feel we would not get the level of service and response we require from someone with small children to look after.
3. You seemed Swiss. While I agree this is generalising, many independent studies have shown that Swiss people have poor service sense.
4. You looked like a heroin addict. Both my wife and I despise illegal drugs and would never have anything to do with a drug abuser.

I wish you all the best for the future, and hope you understand our decision.

Switzerland ... sounds nice on paper...

Unless you are Roman Polanski, nobody is forcing you to stay....

If you don't like it, leave, lifes too short to dick around

And it would be "an accident"

I know what you mean, but I'm waiting for the lost in translation feminists to leap on that one.... I'm sure she'll be along when her chores are done ya'll

Sadly some agents can be both abrupt and intrusive bordering on down-right rude, I'm waiting for a market reversal (but not holding my breath) so we poor immigrants can get our own back.

totally off topic, but if the banker is 'pulling' 6k a month, he's doing something very wrong ...

Nothing exciting but I was asked if my dog barks. Like duuuuuuhh. Obviously I had to suck it up, not roll my eyes and respond as politely as I could. Another one was regarding the piano when I asked if it was possible. A real corker - "oh you are going to have a piano, are you any good?"

I mean how is a person supposed to have answered that?!!

My kind need not apply.

...did you omit to mention 'what's your religion' or she didn't ask?
i was asked a couple of times, even more.
i mean, not that there is anything wrong but...how can it possible be any pertinent? quite clear to me how you can annoy neighbours with a newborn, but... what's with the religion?

I think we were very lucky because our appartment building has mainly foreigners and it is rented through a company
We had to complete a questionnaire but it was standard questions such as how much money you make and name of employer. It was very nice to find that the agent spoke Spanish! We even ran into each other sometimes at the nail saloon Nice woman and nice service