Property management

Régies and property management in Geneva

The Swiss régie is more than an estate agency — it is the institution through which the great majority of Geneva's residential rentals are managed. Established régies handle the listing, the candidate selection, the lease drafting under cantonal law, the security deposit (typically held in a blocked tenant account), maintenance over the life of the tenancy, and the formal état des lieux at entry and exit. Long-standing names like Régie Bory (1885), Grange & Cie (1869), or Moser Vernet (1976) operate alongside more recent firms.

For tenants, the practical reality is competitive: a successful rental dossier typically includes a copy of the residence permit, the three most recent salary slips, an extrait de l'Office des poursuites confirming no debt proceedings, and references. International candidates often benefit from a relocation specialist who knows which régies engage with expatriate dossiers and which require local guarantors.

For sales and higher-value rentals (typically above CHF 8,000 per month), prestige agencies operate either as specialist boutiques or as Swiss arms of international networks such as Sotheby's International Realty, Barnes, or Engel & Völkers. Acquisitions involve a notaire and, for non-resident buyers, Lex Koller authorisation.