Accomodations
Lugano offers a variety of housing solutions, from university residences to elegant flats in the city centre. Find the ideal accommodation for you by consulting the property portals, websites and resources dedicated to student accommodation listed below!
Come possiamo aiutarti
Find accommodation with your university
USI’s student residences are mainly intended for exchange students, recipients of specific international scholarships and Swiss-German or French-speaking students enrolled in the first year of their Bachelor’s degree in architecture.
The USIn accomodation Service is available to support students and PhD students in their search for off-campus accommodation. Although it does not guarantee the availability of accommodation, it offers a database of carefully examined offers to prevent the risk of scams. In addition, it facilitates contact between students through Facebook pages dedicated to the Lugano and Mendrisio campuses, provides language assistance, and offers information on procedures and regulations related to renting in Switzerland.
SUPSI and its affiliated schools do not offer student-owned accommodation (Student Residence). Students may consult the Student Portal noticeboard, which collects rental advertisements from landlords or estate agents. For further resources, please consult the ‘websites and property portals’ section of our website.
Franklin University Switzerland consists of three campuses (Kaletsch Campus, North Campus and McNeely Center of Ideas & Imagination) and eight residences (Airone, Alba, Da Vinci, Giardino, New A, New B, New C and Panera), each with a qualified Resident Assistant. Offering rooms ranging from single to six-bed accommodations, Franklin provides its students with options to meet all their needs.
For more information on the accommodation offered, please visit the relevant page on the website or send an email to info@fus.edu.
Houses and student accommodation
Casa Castalia
Castalia residences in Lugano offer affordable accommodation for students, with rents from 379 to 580 CHF per month and inclusive services such as Internet connection, personal email address and web space. Tenants also benefit from a common room with a free PC, facilitating collaboration between students
Casa studenti
The Casastudenti University Residence Lugano network, designed for students and newly graduated young professionals, offers strategic flats in different areas of the city and surrounding municipalities
Tudent's accomodation Lugano
Alloggi Studenti Lugano, with an established presence, offers tailor-made accommodation solutions for students and young professionals, with numerous flats of various types located in the neighbourhoods adjacent to the University of Lugano
Uniresidence Lugano
Uniresidence, a residence in the heart of Lugano, offers air-conditioned flats with modern furnishings, equipped kitchens, fast Wi-Fi and a safe, a short distance from the University and the city centre
Student Rooms Lugano
Student rooms Lugano offre spazi ideali per studenti universitari di bachelor, master e PHD. Posizionati in varie zone di Lugano, quese sistemazioni offrono la vicinanza alla natura o l’accesso diretto al centro città
City Pop Lugano
City Pop offers studios optimised in space and already furnished with a wide range of on-demand amenities, all manageable via the City Pop App. The minimum period is 4 weeks, the maximum 52 weeks, with the possibility of extension
Acacia 1877
Innovative and comfortable appartments in the centre of Lugano. Studio and 2 ½ room appartments: flats with large windows, furnished kitchen, dishwasher, space-functional furniture, wi-fi, keyless entry, laundry and common areas
Real estate websites and portals
Explore our list of recommended property portals and websites to find the perfect home or room for your needs. Take a look at the many options available, from full services to private listings, to facilitate your search and make the process of selecting your next home more efficient and personalised.
Average cost of a rent and other expenses
In order to live in Lugano, students should expect to spend around CHF 450-1200 per month for accommodation in a single or shared room or in a studio apartment, including ancillary costs such as heating, hot water, water and drainage, electricity, caretaking service and maintenance of the surrounding areas, with a possible television fee.
Rules of the Lease Agreement
A tenancy agreement must include the following essential elements:
- Names of the tenants
- Subject of the lease: room or flat and any ancillary space such as attic or cellar
- Duration of the lease: whether the contract is for an indefinite or fixed term. The termination of the contract must comply with certain rules.
- Notice periods and deadlines for termination: define the notice periods (minimum three months) required for termination and the relevant deadlines.
- Rent and ancillary costs: specify the monthly amount of the rent and whether ancillary costs are included. If ancillary expenses are not included, those to be paid by the tenant must be indicated in the contract.
A lease may include the following additional elements:
- Specific agreements: such as the admission of pets.
- Security deposit:
- indicate in the lease if a security deposit is required and, if so, specify the amount.
- House rules: if there are any, include the house rules governing the cohabitation of tenants, such as night-time quiet and the use of the washing machine.
For more information, visit ch.ch website.
In tenancies of indefinite duration, either party may give notice of termination by observing the statutory notice periods and notice periods, provided that they have not agreed on a longer notice period or another notice period.
- Cancellation of the lease by the tenant
The tenant may terminate the lease by observing the contractual and notice periods. If the tenant decides to return the leased property early without observing the notice periods or deadlines, he shall only be released from his obligations towards the landlord if he proposes a new, solvent tenant who cannot reasonably be refused by the landlord; the new tenant must be willing to take over the contract under the same conditions.
If the lease is signed by several persons, the notice of termination must be signed by all parties involved. It is not necessary to provide a reason for termination. To make the termination official, send a notice to the landlord by registered letter.
- Cancellation of the lease by the landlord
The landlord has the right to give notice of termination of the lease to the tenant for any reason. However, he is obliged to comply with the time limits set by law or by the contract, using an official notice of termination form approved by the canton.
The tenant shall also have the right to request the reason for termination. If the notice of termination is deemed unjustified, it may be contested. If the notice of termination is legitimate, but you need more time to find another accommodation that suits your needs, you have the right to request a protraction of the lease. Prolongation is excluded if the tenancy has been terminated due to default by the tenant or due to a serious breach of the tenant’s duty of care and consideration for neighbours.
If the tenant wishes to contest the notice of termination or request a prolongation of the tenancy, he must submit the request (conciliation petition) to the tenancy conciliation authority within 30 days of the notice of termination.
A rent deposit, also known as a security deposit, is insurance for the landlord in case of damage to the flat or late payment of rent by the tenant. It is required by most administrations in lease procedures. The amount of the deposit is specified in the lease agreement. For the letting of residential premises, the landlord cannot demand a security deposit that exceeds the equivalent of three-monthly rents.
The security deposit is paid into a blocked bank account, the holder of which is the tenant. This account is locked for the entire duration of the lease and can be monitored by both parties.
If the cost of the security deposit is too high and you cannot afford to pay it, you can take out rental deposit insurance: by paying an annual premium, the insurance company or bank agrees to guarantee the rental deposit. This implies that the company assumes responsibility for covering damages or delays in rent payments to the landlord. Before taking out rent security insurance, it is advisable to obtain prior approval from the administration, which may reject the request without stating reasons.
Unfortunately, misleading online advertisements continue to proliferate, in which scammers offer tempting accommodation in central locations. These fraudsters usually claim that the landlord is temporarily abroad and cannot personally show the flat.
The person concerned is asked to pay a month’s rent in advance in order to visit the flat or receive the keys. It is essential not to make any payment before seeing the space in person, unless you have complete confidence in the landlord. Before proceeding, it is advisable to carefully check the identity of the potential contractual partner and pay attention to any suspicious elements.
Remember to keep all correspondence as evidence and inform the authorities immediately if you suspect that any of the advertisements you have assessed may have come from a fraudster.
Don’t forget
Announce your arrival
All Swiss or foreign persons transferring their domicile or residence to the municipality of Lugano for a lasting period must register within 8 days of arrival at the Punto Città counters.
Apply for a residence permit
In order to obtain a residence permit, it is essential to contact the cantonal migration authority or the labour market office in your place of residence.
Notification of change of domicile in Canton Ticino
Any person who decides to move to a new address within the municipality must notify the change of address.
Notification of departure from Canton Ticino
Any person who decides to move their domicile to another municipality must notify their departure.
Contribute to good neighbourliness
New arrival in the neighbourhood
When you arrive in a new neighbourhood introduce yourself to your new neighbours and warn them of any inconveniences you may create during the move.
Noise and quiet times
Respect the quiet at night between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. Avoid noisy activities during the afternoon rest period between 12.00 and 13.00 and after 19.00. On Saturdays before 9 am, between 12 noon and 1.30 pm and after 6 pm. On Sundays and holidays, all day.
Smells and smoke
In many buildings, smoking is prohibited in the corridors, the lift and also in common areas. If you smoke in the window or on the balcony, check that the smell does not disturb the neighbours.
Order and cleanliness
Do not leave rubbish on the landing or in the common areas. Use the appropriate municipal bags and containers, separate waste according to disposal or recovery.
Common spaces
Respect the established shifts and times for the use of the laundry room. Tidy the space and clean the washing machine after your laundry. Keep the garden tidy and respect plants and greenery.
Pets
Find out whether pet ownership is permitted before moving or taking in an animal. Accompany the animal on its walks, keep it on a leash and do not let it wander unattended in the building or on the balcony.
Security
Clear the common rooms. Fix pots to the balcony in a precautionary manner on the inside. Pay attention to unusual noises, especially when a neighbour is absent.
Things to know
The red rubbish bag and the rules for good waste separation
The objective of the City of Lugano is to decrease the amount of waste produced, as well as to incentivise and increase separate waste collection, reducing the costs of collection and disposal. The official sack of the City of Lugano is red with white lettering, and sack costs vary according to capacity:
- 17 litres at CHF 4.00,
- 35 litres for CHF 8.50,
- 60 litres for CHF 14.5,
- 110 litres for CHF 13.25,
- 200 litres for CHF 48.5.
The ecopoints are available 24 hours a day, every day of the week, for the collection of the main recyclable materials. The deposit of glass is authorised from Monday to Saturday (non-holiday), from 8.30 am to 8 pm.
The ecocentres accept large quantities of all types of waste, including bulky and special waste, provided that the citizen carries an Ecocard card. The Ecocard is received automatically once you have registered at the residents’ service and if you eventually lose the card, you can apply for it via the City of Lugano’s online desk.
The shared washing machine and shifts
In Switzerland, especially in student accommodation, there is no washing machine in the house, but rather a large communal room – thus shared with all the tenants in the building – in which one or more washing machines and dryers are housed. They can be accessed freely as needed or according to a weekly schedule shared with all users. However, it is essential to coordinate the use of these facilities with other residents to ensure fair sharing of resources.
Subletting your room for a period
It is possible to sublet the whole flat or an individual room, but the landlord must be informed. Subletting can only be prohibited if
- you refuse to inform the landlord of the conditions or if you charge an excessive rent.
- represents a considerable disadvantage for the landlord, e.g. renting a room in a quiet house as a rehearsal room for a band.
In the case of furnished flats, a maximum surcharge of 20% can be charged for wear and tear of furniture, otherwise the maximum rent for the subtenant is equal to that paid by the original tenant, including expenses.
The Neighbours' Festival
Lugano regularly organises the Festa dei vicini (Neighbourhood Festival), an event that offers the inhabitants of the same building, street or neighbourhood the opportunity to get together and organise an event to foster mutual acquaintance and long-term social ties.
The city provides the organisers with a “party kit” to facilitate their preparation (flyers, invitations, posters, glasses).
My experience
“Immersa nei suoi paesaggi panoramici, Lugano ha una vivace comunità internazionale, con la sua università che funge da hub per connessioni multiculturali. In tale atmosfera le amicizie tra accademici prosperano, diventando connessioni inestimabili che spesso fungono da pietra angolare negli sforzi professionali anche molto tempo dopo la laurea.”
Jelena Milosevic
PhD in Informatics, USI
"In Lugano, I had the opportunity to follow a high-level and very stimulating educational path that provides the necessary skills to enter the world of work. In addition to studying, the city offers many opportunities for leisure and relaxation."
Marco De Piaz
SUPSI student - MSE in Engineering and Environnement
"Lugano is more than just a small town: it is and will continue to be a diverse mecca of experiential learning, international exposure, and professional growth.”
Gabriel Bader
FUS Student
“Meeting many students from all around the world. The cultural diversity not only benefits one's personal growth but also strengthens the ability to work within intercultural environments and expands one's perspective. Studying in such an international university and in the beautiful city of Lugano was a great experience.”
Asmen Pablo Koç
USI Student
The answer to your questions
To look for accommodation in Lugano and the surrounding areas, we invite you to consult the options made available by your university, or browse the real estate portals or websites on this page.
It is possible to terminate the contract during the rental period.
- Termination by the tenant
The lessee (the renter) may decide to give notice of termination for a date other than the one specified in the contract. To avoid paying rent until the ordinary expiry of the lease, it is the tenant’s responsibility to find a replacement. If the lease is signed by several persons, the notice of termination must be signed by all parties involved. It is not necessary to provide a reason for termination. To make the termination official, send a notice to the landlord by registered letter.
- Termination by the landlord
The landlord has the right to serve notice of termination on the tenant for any reason. However, he is obliged to comply with the time limits laid down by law or by the contract, using an official form for notification. The lessor also has the right to request the reason for termination. In the case of a termination that is deemed unjustified, it is possible to contest it. If the termination is legitimate, but you are in a particularly difficult situation, such as financial difficulties, illness or an extremely tense real estate market, you have the right to request an extension of the rental agreement.
There is no legal obligation, but many landlords demand it.
It is possible to sublet the whole flat or an individual room, but the landlord must be informed. Subletting can only be prohibited if
- you refuse to inform the landlord of the conditions or if you charge an excessive rent.
- represents a considerable disadvantage for the landlord, e.g. renting a room in a quiet house as a rehearsal room for a band.
In the case of furnished flats, a maximum surcharge of 20% can be charged for wear and tear of furniture, otherwise the maximum rent for the subtenant is equal to that paid by the original tenant, including expenses.
As soon as you arrive in Lugano, remember to
- Announce your arrival: All Swiss or foreign persons transferring their domicile or residence to the Municipality of Lugano for a lasting period of time must announce their arrival within 8 days of arrival by going to the Punto Città counters.
- Apply for a residence permit: In order to obtain a residence permit, it is essential to contact the cantonal migration authority or the labour market office in your place of residence.
- Apply for Swiss health insurance: If you are domiciled in Switzerland, you must be insured with a Swiss health insurance company.
When you arrive in Switzerland, you have three months to take out health insurance. Upon application, foreign students, pupils, trainees and interns who hold a residence permit for study purposes (the one with the endorsement ‘stay for training’) are exempt from the insurance requirement if they have equivalent health insurance cover in Switzerland. The competent cantonal authority (for the Canton of Ticino, it is the Social Insurance Institute in Bellinzona) may exempt these persons from the obligation to take out insurance in Switzerland for a maximum of six years.
In order to live in Lugano and Mendrisio, students must calculate a monthly expense of approx. CHF 450-1200 for accommodation (single room, shared room, or studio apartment).
The red sack is the official sack of the city of Lugano for disposing of municipal solid waste.
