Hello again! Sorry for posting this twice, but after posting it as a response I realized the question probably deserved its own thread. Rookie mistake that I won't make again again. Original text is below:

Does anyone know if the 3 month notice is standard (i.e., a fixed part of Swiss law) even if it is not in the rental contract? The reason I ask is that last year I signed a 12 month lease which will end at the end of July. I want to vacate the apartment at the end of July as I am moving to France. There is no mention of any notice period in the lease I signed, nor is there any automatic renewal clause. Yet when I tried to explain to my landlord I was leaving, I was told it was "Swiss law" that I needed to give 3 months notice.

I tried to help the landlord find a new tenant and found someone who was very interested in the place. But unfortunately she is from Uganda. She has a great job at the UN and wouldn't have had trouble meeting the rent. But the landlord made several references to her skin color to me and then gave the woman the runaround until she gave up and is searching elsewhere. So now I am hesitant to have to put even more effort out to find another potential tenant, especially since I don't understand why I should have to do this in the first place.

Sorry for the rant :-) Any suggestions on what I can do here? Does anyone know someone who specializes in this kind of stuff in Geneva?

Many thanks!

I am not sure about the notice period being in law, but the best thing for you to do is contact your local Mieterverband who will be able to provide you with the advice you need specific to your situation.

When friends have left apartments in Zurich area before the dates specified on the contract they have simply had to provide the landlord with a list of people who would be willing to take it over and who can pay etc. As far as my wife knows you only have to bring one such applicant to the landlord who is suitable, i.e. is capable of paying etc, and if the landlord turns them down it is not your problem. As I said though the Mieterverband in your area will give you the best advice.

Based upon the German Mieterverband website, I think this is the equivilent website for the Swiss French region - http://www.asloca.ch/section.php?id=5

Yep, as Zenistar has said, all you need to do is provide one person who is able and willing to take over your contract as of a set date and you are free to leave EVEN IF the landlord/landlady/renting agency decides not to give the property to the person you provided.

Many thanks to both of you for the advice! I really appreciate it!

the two of them then?