Hi, I just thought I would pick your brains about finding a room in Lausanne. I'm a student and will need a place in the city for 5/6 months. I understand, and judging by the internet ads, the rental market is oversaturated.

Any advice on areas is good as well, so long as it's close or well-connected to UNIL and the city centre then that would be great. As a student, I really don't have the budget or necessity of a view of the lake or fancy neighbourhood restaurants. Though obviously it's a benefit if 'there's more going on' in in a particular area.

Does anyone have any experience of arranging a room, via email/online. The thing is, I'm in Spain for a few more weeks (rent paid). So it just seems a bit of a hassel to have to fly to Geneva a couple of weeks later and then back to the UK and two weeks later settle in Switzerland. However, I'm wondering whether it's inevitable as I may need to set up a Swiss bank account? Although can I do that online too? Then there's also that 8 day later thing of getting your residence permit. But perhaps that could be done after I settle in September.

I'm concerned that if I arrive in September there will be a panic for student accom and I'll end up paying through my nose.

Hi,
How about you ask your student union?

There have been a few recent threads about where to live in Lausanne and surrounding areas that are convenient to the university (St Sulpice, Renens, Ecublens, Malley, Prilly, Crissier). The tourist office used to have accommodation lists with apartments/rooms - http://www.lausanne.ch/view.asp?docI...358&language=E - however, this may no longer be the case, but you could contact to find out. This was how we arranged our temporary accommodation (2 months). The university should also be able to help you out as they have an office that deals with accommodation.

www.mapsearch.ch may be useful for seeing transport links etc in the neighbourhood.

I opened my bank account when I arrived. It's important to register within the time frame but it shouldn't take long anyway.

I really would start looking as soon as possible. When I arrived in Zurich last August there was a LOT of competition for rooms in student houses, sometimes 50 people at a viewing. And by then all the accommodation ran by the university had gone. I expect it's a similar situation in Lausanne. There is a lot of info on here about where to look for somewhere to live, you should check this sticky. I'd recommend wgzimmer. Here there's a lot of cheap stuff, and it's cool to be in a WG (flatshare) with other people. You should apply to as much as you can. Good Luck

Thanks guys, this is really helpful. My flight back to England is on the 22nd so I'll try and aim to be in Switz before the end of July.

This is soon to be available - it may help you out in the short term:

www.englishforum.ch/adverts-property/116987-offering-room-summer-lausanne.html

I would advise you to check www.fmel.ch and the UNIL website ASAP (http://www.unil.ch/sasc/page39822_en.html).

Also try http://www.easywg.ch/?l=1

Good luck!