The Ultimate Guide to Finding Student Housing in Zurich

You need a room in Zurich. Demand is ridiculous for market rate rooms. Demand for affordable student rooms is... impossible. There are enough student rooms for around 10% of students. You need connections and if you don't have those you need to make your own luck.

1. How to Find a Room — The Basics

Speed and focus are critical. Here's how to maximize your chances in the shortest time:

Most listings appear 1–2 months before move-in. You can start before and put yourself on all the waitlists of organisations who run student housing. But you only have a small chance with those so you need to be fully focused during the key time window.
Gather your paperwork now: Have your enrollment proof, ID copies, financial statements and references ready. You'll need to send these at a moment's notice.
Scour multiple platforms daily. Set up email alerts if possible. The moment something appears, apply.
Leverage your network: Ask classmates, Facebook groups, and university forums. Let people know you're hunting. A friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend might have an open room.
Be ready to view and commit: If someone offers you a viewing or a room, drop everything and go. Hesitation = lost opportunity. But do not let the urgency make you fall for scams.

2. Where to Look (And the Flaws You'll Face)

Zurich's housing search is an exercise in juggling multiple sources, each with quirks. Hit all angles and know what to expect:

WOKO (Student Housing): The go-to for affordable student rooms. It's cheap and student-friendly, but they cannot provide a room for every student in Zurich and have strict deadlinesWOKO. Many rooms in WOKO housing are organised by the students themselves so make sure you're applying to private listings too.
JUWO Cooperative: A non-profit offering discounted student apartments. JUWO rooms are usually advertised by the students in the houses themselves. But there is no harm in sending them an email just in case.
University Housing Services: ETH and UZH offer limited housing help in terms of rooms, but make sure to contact them if you need help ETH/UZH Joint Housing Service.
WGZimmer.ch: The biggest flat-share site. Not designed to make your flat search easier. You will spend most of your time in the dark with no responses. But eventually it can work out. Apply with a friendly, personalized message to stand out.
Homegate & Flatfox: Major Swiss housing portals (not student-specific). If you are not applying to a student flat, landlords here prefer stable income and long-term leases. Be ready with a convincing application (rich parents anyone?). for tips. Check Homegate and Flatfox, but temper your expectations on student-friendliness if you are not applying to an existing student WG.

3. Strategies That Win You the Room

You found a listing now you need to beat dozens of other applicants. Here's how to make them remember you:

Personalize applications where appropriate: You probably do not have the time to write a personal message for 200 rooms or after the first 20 without replies you do not see the point. That's ok. Flats that expect it have forgotten what it is like to be on the other side. But, you at least should make your application stand out and make it clear who you are. If the flat mentions something specific and you really want it, you should take the time to tailor the message to them.
Pitch yourself: Briefly introduce who you are (student, field of study, hobbies). Emphasize being clean, responsible, and easy to live with. Basically, make them see a reliable friend, not a random stranger.
Reply fast: If you get a response, get back to them right away
Have references ready: If you've rented before, get a reference letter from a previous landlord or a professor. This isn't always asked for, but having it impresses people that you're trustworthy.
Be persistently polite: If you don't hear back, send a short reminder after a couple of days. Don't spam, but a polite follow-up can put you back on their radar ahead of flaky candidates.
Ace the interview/viewing: Treat it like a casual interview. Show up on time, be friendly, ask questions. If it's a group flat, engage with future roommates. Smile, be honest, and avoid awkward one-word answers.

4. Avoiding Scams & Cash-Hungry Middlemen

Desperation can make you a target. Scammers and greedy "agents" prey on students who feel cornered. Stay sharp and watch for these red flags:

Landlord "abroad" asking for wire transfers: Classic scam. If someone refuses to meet or show the place and wants money sent overseas, walk away.
Too good to be true: A huge room in the city center for a suspiciously low price? Fake. Scammers bait you with dream listings. Always cross-check prices and photos (reverse image search is your friend).
Pay-to-play listings: Any service asking for upfront fees just to access listings or "guarantee" a room is likely ripping you off. You shouldn't have to pay an agent just to view a student room. Unfortunately many of the platforms have a legal version of the same business model and add their own tax on applications or for "early access". Swift Living is here to fix that.
Never pay cash without a contract: In Zurich, a legitimate landlord will provide a written lease. Don't hand over a deposit or rent under the table without paperwork that protects you.

5. If You Still Don't Have a Room When Semester Starts

Day one of classes and nowhere to live? It's not ideal, but it's not game over. Here's how to cope while you keep searching:

Temporary accommodation: Choose a short term options (our guide has an extensive list No Room At Semester Start? What Now?) . It buys you time to continue the hunt. Yes, it's extra money, but a few weeks in a pricier option is better than signing a long lease somewhere you would be unhappy.
Last-minute WOKO or dorm spots: Keep checking with WOKO and university housing for cancellations. Students drop out or cancel plans last minute all the time. If you're persistent, you might snag a room that opened up unexpectedly.
Expand your radius: Broaden your search to outside Zurich city. A 30-minute train ride might get you a cheaper, available room in a surrounding town. You can always move closer later. Commuting From The Suburbs.