Renting or subletting a space for a few months in Switzerland

Good to know: this article is for general information only and is not legal advice. The rules on subletting depend on your lease and your situation. Check with your property management company (régie / Verwaltung) or a professional. The sources are listed at the end of the article.

You are moving in three months and your new home is not ready. You are having work done and your furniture has to go somewhere. You need a parking space for the winter, or a workshop for the length of a project. In all these cases, the question is not only “where?” but also “for how long?”.

The opposite situation is just as common. You are going abroad for six months, or your garage stays empty until you sell your car. You would like to rent it out, but only for that period.

This guide explains what changes when the rental is short, where to look, and what each side needs to settle.

What changes when the rental is short

For a rental by the year, you mostly compare price and location. For a few weeks or a few months, other points matter more:

• The dates. An ideal space that is free a month too late is no use. The start date and the end date come before everything else.
• A price per month or per day. For two weeks, a daily price is often fairer than a whole month. For three months, a monthly price is simpler.
• Flexibility. What happens if you leave earlier, or need one more month? It is better to know beforehand.
• Moving in and moving out. Over a short period, the day you get the keys and the day you hand them back are a large part of the planning.

Where to look: the options and their limits

Each type of platform was designed for a specific use. None is bad in itself. The question is whether it fits a short rental or a sublet.

In practice, many people combine several options. If you need furniture storage for three months, compare for example a self-storage unit and a cellar at a private owner's. Our article self-storage or a private cellar explains how to compare.

For renters: you need a space for a few months

1. Set your dates, with a margin

Write down the date you need the space, and the date you expect to free it. Add a margin. Building work or a move often takes longer than planned.

2. Give the dates in your first message

Write clearly: “from 1 March to 31 May, maybe until the end of June”. The owner knows straight away if it suits them. You both save time.

3. Ask about flexibility

• “If I leave earlier, do I have to pay for the whole period?”
• “If I need one more month, is that possible? By when do I have to tell you?”
• “At what times can I access the space on the day I move in and the day I move out?”

4. Think about your belongings

Belongings stored away from your home are not necessarily covered in the same way. Ask your insurer. Our guide which insurance for a rented space lists the useful questions.

If you sublet: you rent out a space you rent yourself

Many cellars, garages and parking spaces come with a rented flat. If you are a tenant, you cannot decide alone to sublet them.

1. Talk to your property management company first

A sublet must be reported to the landlord. The landlord can refuse it in some cases, for example if the terms are not disclosed or if it causes them significant inconvenience.¹ Contact your property management company before you publish a listing, and keep their answer in writing.

2. Your own lease sets the limit

You cannot promise a longer period than the one you have. Check the length of your lease and its notice period before you announce an end date.

3. Keep the price reasonable

A sublet can also be refused if the rent asked is abusive.¹ The simplest approach is to talk about it openly with your property management company.

4. Check your insurance

You remain responsible for the space towards your landlord. Ask your insurer whether your personal liability insurance (RC) covers this situation.

For owners: you rent out for a limited period

A space that stays empty for a few months can help someone out. A few simple decisions avoid misunderstandings:

• Set a minimum period, if you do not want to handle rentals of a few days.
• Choose your price per month, per day, or both.
• State the date you take the space back, if you need it by a specific date.
• Plan the end from the start: return date, handing back the keys, checking the condition of the space at the end.

If you rent the space yourself, the “If you sublet” section above applies first.

The written agreement for a fixed period

A written agreement is recommended, even when it is not required.¹ For a short period, it should state:

• the start date and the end date;
• what happens if the renter leaves early or wants to extend;
• the price, and whether it is per day or per month;
• the access hours, especially for moving in and moving out;
• the intended use and what is stored;
• the number of keys and the date they are returned;
• the condition of the space, with dated photos at the start and at the end.

How it works on SpareSpot

SpareSpot is a Swiss platform for renting spaces between private individuals, available in four languages. It was designed for this kind of rental: spaces of all sizes, for a period chosen by both parties.

• Listing a space is free, with no commission.
• The owner can set a price per day, per month, or both.
• A rental request can include a start date and an end date.
• Conversations go through the built-in messaging. Each side can ask questions before committing.
• The exact address stays private until the owner accepts a request.
• Payment is arranged directly between the two parties.

Looking for space for a few months? Browse the listings for furniture storage, storage during a move or parking spaces and garages, for example in Zurich or Geneva. Have a space free for a while? List it from the owners page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I rent a cellar or a garage for just one month?

Yes, if the owner agrees. Many prefer a minimum period, others accept short rentals. Give your dates in your first message.

Am I allowed to sublet my parking space or my cellar?

It depends on your lease. Tell your property management company about the sublet before you publish, and keep their answer in writing.

Is a daily or a monthly price better?

For a few days or two weeks, a daily price is often fairer. Beyond a month, a monthly price is simpler for both parties.

What happens if I have to leave earlier?

Agree on this with the owner before you start. Note it in the written agreement, with the notice you need to give.

Why not just use a big property portal?

It is a good option for a rental by the year. For a few months or a sublet, a platform designed for flexible durations often makes things simpler.

Sources

Page consulted in September 2026. It gives general information and does not replace reading your lease.

1. ch.ch, the official portal of the Confederation, the cantons and the communes: Rental and leasing agreements. The lease and subletting.