Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Welcome to Geneva!

Welcome to Geneva!

This blog will give you an heads-up on living in Geneva. Take a deep breath and start reading it....

Housing...

Section A: Getting an idea on housing
  • Renting a flat can be in multiple ways. You can get it 
    • from flat owner directly OR 
    • via Regie OR
      • Regie - is an organized real estate agent who manage apartments /  buildings. There are many regie's in Geneva and Switzerland
    • via Tenant (this is called Sub-Let)
  • Usually via owner, most appliances (white goods) will be there. some flats comes with furnishing
  • via Regie – mostly flat will be empty - this is best way, as the rents will be cheap and getting via them is bit tricky (you will learn, when you start applying for flats)
  • Sub-let – mostly fully furnished. Technically existing tenant rents you since he is abroad or will be moving out soon or going on vacation 
    • Sub-let can be three ways.
      • Long Term stay (legitimate option) - if the existing tenant (via Regie) has a valid contract, where he can sub-let his/her flat to others. He gives a valid contract of stay with you & him/her.
      • Long Term stay (legitimate option) - via Regie – this will involve your documentation with Regie
      • Temporary / short stay (ok) – Long Term ( no – don’t take it) – existing tenant or sub-let’er is NOT ready to give contract OR you can stay in JohnKnox

Initially to save cost, go in sub-let (will save you hotel costs), then search for flat via Regie or owner - usually this will take 2-3 months and depends on availability, your likeness on the flat and etc...

Alternatively, lease-takeover is easy option.

By default, a rental contract with Regie is for minimum 1 year and sometimes 3 years or 5 years period. If someone has to move out, then s/he is required to submit 1-2 eligible applicants to Regie/owner who will take over the flat. The existing tenants will post their ads in internet using glocals & FB groups, asking to visit and apply for lease take over. This does not mean that you have to serve remaining period, but it will be new lease in your name. Don’t worry, you will find an applicant when you need to move out.

You can view the ads, by joining / searching in the below websites/groups

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Genevelocation/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/396738560372636/
http://www.glocals.com/classifieds/geneva/housing-and-real-estate/ (similar to sulekha in India)
Geneva Indian Email Group
Indians in Swiss Email Group

Few sites where you can view the ad from Regie

HomeGate
ImmoScout
ImmoStreet
RealEstate Search Engine
BilFinger
Consolidated Regie's Website List


Section B: Understanding how flats are classified & rent sample
  • Every room is called piece here. For a 1 BHK - 1 hall, 1 bed room, 1 kitchen, it will be called as 3 pieces flat. You can opt of 3-4 piece flat (1 or 2 BHK). - rent varies from CHF  1200 to CHF 2200 (very old flats [40+ years old] costs less, and new flats costs more)
Average rent price per 20 sq. m = CHF 600.

Decent Studio (size 20-30 sq.m) - CHF 800-1400
Decent 1 BHK - 3 piece (size 40-55 sq.m) - CHF 1000-1800
Decent 1.5 BHK - 3.5 piece (size 60-75 sq.m) - CHF 1500-2000
Decent 2 BHK - 4 piece (size 60-100 sq.m) - CHF 1800-2500
Decent 3 BHK - 5 piece (size 80-150 sq.m) - CHF 2200-3200

Section C: Furnishing
  • Appliances & Furnishing (mattress / cost / sofa / TV / washing machine / dish washer / cook top with grill / microwave / vessels / kitchenware ) based on flat, you can get it. 
  • Even if you get an empty flat, white goods & furnishing (NEW) will cost around 4 to 6K max as one time.
  • If you feel, your stay is 2 years or less, you can think of buying used items also.

Section D: Deposit

  • Deposit is 3 months when you sign a contract with Regie or Owner.
  • Duration of contract is by default 1 year or 3 years. 
  • 3 months’ notice period and you can't break within 1st year. if you break, then either you need to pay OR find a suitable tenant
  • For sub-let. Usually 1 month deposit.
  • Remember here, it is advance rent. It means 1st April; you pay rent for April month.
  • you need to get Liability insurance 

Living
  • Veg - average cost - per person CHF 300-500 month (on the higher end)
  • Non-veg - average cost - per person CHF 400 - CHF 600 month (on the higher end) 
  • All spices & food is available with grocery shops managed by Srilankans, Pakistani & Indian people.
  • Grocery Shopping
    • CoOp
    • Migros
    • Denner
    • Aligro
    • Border cross-shopping / carrefour
Transport 
  • If you know your contract/stay period in Geneva, then opt of an year pass CHF 550 (instead of monthly CHF 70) as it will save cost. TPG is the Geneva transport provider.
  • If you love driving (minus parking cost + other expenses), buy used / new car 
    • If you are determined to get an car, remember within 365 days of  your arrival to Geneva, you can convert your existing Indian driving license to valid Swiss License.
      • Ensure that you have a valid plastic card based license (not an book format), else change it before coming from India
  • OR else get an half-fare SWISS PASS (CHF 165 annual renewal)
    • Swiss trains/bus are almost ON-TIME
    • Get 1 day travel pass (regular CHF 73…if you buy 5, you will get 6, works out CHF 60 approx)
  • OR get commune (fixed date) day pass (subsidized rate). Check out the commune site you live in.

Insurance
  • Health (compulsory)
    • Your travel insurance is NOT a valid insurance in Geneva
    • Health Insurance is compulsory and you need to take within 3 months of your arrival in Switzerland. Refer Link and News Link
    • Usually if you are deputed from India, medical insurance is managed by your employer, else add CHF 800-1300 for the whole family (of 2 adults + 2 kids) per month.
    • Opt for Standard insurance which would cost CHF 400-600 per person with max outgo as CHF300 (premium reduces with deductible increase)
    • If you want to save on premium, opt for TelMed or HMO model. Premium would be CHF 200-300 with max outgo as CHF 2500
      • Check for Assura PHARMed 
    • Check https://en.comparis.ch/krankenkassen/default.aspx 
  • Liability (compulsory) when you take an flat from Regie. Check Axa


Income Deductions / Taxation (based on your employer / your work contract)
Typically an bachelor / spinster with 96K will pay 12% tax rate
a couple with spouse no income with 96K will pay 8% tax rate
a couple with spouse no income and 1 kid with 96K will pay 5% tax rate
a couple with spouse no income and 2 kid with 96K will pay 2% tax rate



Schooling
Canton (district administration) has French as the medium, however if your stay is temporary (say 2 years on L permit) then joining to an international school with British (English) curriculum is relevant in Geneva, if you have grown up kids (8+).

There are around 5-7 schools in Geneva. Would recommend http://www.iil.ch/en/ . The overall cost for private schooling is between 25K - 40K (depends on which school you join). If your employer will take / coverage of schools fees from 50-85% ...so it would be well in control on the finance.

Schools start on Sept. while admission starts in Feb/Mar of every year (in some schools previous Dec itself). Get school admission and then search for flat, so that you have walkable distance from it.

If you want to join public school, select flat near your work place, as public schools are there everywhere.

Public School is subsidized or say free, so you will have to pay nominal charges, when required.


 Swiss Banking / Transferring Money to India
  • Before travelling open an SBI NRE account else convert your existing account from SB to NRO.
    • Recommended would be opening an NRE Account from your favorite bank, in case you feel SBI is cumbersome
  • UBS is recommended bank as have nominal charges and have ATM's widely.
    • Transferring to India (international transfer) they charge only CHF 5
      • remember to select *charges borne by the receiver* when sending money to India
  • You can also use TransferWise instead of UBS direct transfer.

Miscellaneous
  • Internet, TV/Mobile device licensing, other charges (heating / electricity), mobile  - approx 100-250 CHF per month
  • Mobile
    • If you will be speaking only to people in India, buy an LycaMobile. Data plan is the cheapest and you can opt for VOIP & WhatsApp / Viber calling.
    • If your work depends on mobile locally, then opt for Company provided or Sunrise / Swisscom better.
  • Internet for home comes with bundle or standalone.
    • Standalone package is only internet, which can be subscribed from UPC. They have tie up with Naxoo (who are local providers) separate charge (CHF 20-30) for them. Do check with Regie, before subscribing to Internet, as sometimes only certain provider will be allowed/subscribed to.
  • BILAG
    • This is mobile (radio) /TV licensing. If you have internet connection and watch programs using it, then you need to opt for BILAG with radio licensing. If you don’t do it, ISP will send report and automatically you will get bill. So better opt on your own.
    • If you have TV, then opt for TV licensing


To sum-up, Monthly Expenses would be

Housing (rent/heating/internet/BILAG) - CHF 1200-2000
Living (food) – CHF 500-1500
Health Insurance - CHF 300-900
Transport – CHF 70-200
TDS / Tax - approx CHF 500-600 (varies on your marital, dependent status)


Enjoy your stay in Geneva!

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