Hi,

Hopefully an easy one. On some Swiss apartment rental applications it asks for "Konf". It's in the general personal info bit where they are asking for addresses, nationality etc. These are German language forms BTW.

I did a search here but no luck.

Anyone able to tell me what they are asking for?


Also, is there a good online guide to translating these types of forms? I'm figuring them out but even if I can translate a word it's sometimes hard to interpret what they mean without the cultural context.

Konf. sounds like it's short for Konfession, or religion. But I'm surprised to hear of an apartment rental agency wanting to know religion of a potential tenant.

blimey that sounds probable but also uncomfortable. It fits with the flow of the form at least. Thanks.

It relates to religion and the German word Konfession. Hope my lack of religion isn't what is stopping me from getting a place!

If I leave it blank are they likely to regard that as suspicious?

If I put "none" ("Keiner"?) are they likely to judge me badly?

Keine (no r) or Konfessionslos would be what I suggest.

I put Keine.

I would not expect this to be an issue, but I am actually yet to get an appartment after numerous applications (they are applications for central Zurich so it is kind of half expected anyway).

Perhaps someone else might have had experience of this being a positive or negative on their applications - no one has rejected my application and said it is because i am not religious.

I am religious but I've actually just been putting a big line through this on my applications (both rental and employment work forms). In North America, this information is something we would never ask. So I was just stubburn and refused to answer it.

It seemed to be ok for my rental application, as they accepted. And at work, when I asked them about it, they just responded "Ignore that. You're from Canada, we know you don't ask those types of questions there..."

I have never seen a rental form asking this question. Perhaps in Kanton Aargau we are more discreet.

The HEV application form does not ask this question. I imagine the form you have is one that someone has created.

I have seen it on several forms in Zurich - religion / confession.

Well I don't know why this is any of the landlord's business. When you register at the Gemeinde they have a right to ask this.....but the landlord? I don't think it is any of their business.

I don't think an agency would ask this. A private individual, I can see asking this but as I said, I have never come across this.

This PDF is one example where it plainly asks for the religion and another here.

The applications I'm seeing this on are from agencies. So far the ones I'm applying for don't ask but that's more luck than anything.

Another thing, when dealing with rentals via an agencies, is it generally acceptable to complete it in English or is that not a done thing?

Interesting on the first form: they ask your religion but then go on to say that they are neutral from a political or religious point of view. One could therefore ask why they need to know one's religion if it is irrelevant....

I've never had success when applying in English but got my flats when someone did a dossier-like application ( Bewerbung ) in German for me.

cheesey, my take on it at the moment in the current market is that the more difficult you make it for the agent or landlord, the less likely you are to get the apartment. There are not enough apartments to go around in most cities and landlords can be choosy.

I translate the application for my clients, so they understand what they are signing, but I have them complete the form in German. There are things you do not need to translate, for example, if your job title is in English, such as General Manager, just put that.

Some religions are louder than others and entering "keiner" or "none" is acceptable, I have never found any discrimination due to religious preferance or lack of it.

thanks guys. Is "mtl" monthly? - context "Einkommen Mtl. Brutto Fr."

Your gross ( brutto cf. netto ) monthly income is to be stated.

Thanks!!


Another one which defeats Google Translate.... "Natel:". Question shares a line with work phone #.