The problem to solve
An employee hands over one payslip. Your income moves from month to month, and the person reading your dossier has a few minutes. Your job is to make one number believable.
Step by step
- Pick one yearly figure. Use your taxable income from the latest tax assessment, not your turnover. Landlords may ask for the approximate yearly income, for example in ranges (FDPIC leaflet, 2025).
- Back it with two years. Two annual accounts or two tax assessments show that the figure is not a one-off.
- Add a current debt enforcement extract. A copy may be requested from every applicant.
- Write five lines about the business. What you do, since when, who your clients are in general terms, how many months of reserves you hold.
- Offer security before you are asked. See the table.
- Apply to rents your figure carries. A strong dossier for a flat that is too expensive stays a weak application.
Documents and what each one shows
| Document | What it shows the landlord |
|---|---|
| Latest tax assessment | Income as the tax office accepted it |
| Annual accounts, two years | That the income is stable |
| Business and private bank statements | Current cash and reserves |
| Debt enforcement extract | Pending enforcements |
| Commercial register extract, if you are registered | That the business exists and since when |
| Reference from your current landlord | That rent was paid on time |
Security you can offer
- Deposit. At most three monthly rents for a home, held in a bank account in your name (Art. 257e OR).
- Co-tenant. A partner with a salary who signs the lease is liable for the whole rent together with you (Art. 143 OR).
- Surety. A written declaration with a maximum amount, and with a notary above CHF 2,000 for private persons (Art. 493 OR).
How aptari fits in
- The Match Score from 0 to 100 compares your income with the rent of each listing, by fixed rules, and shows the facts used. It measures fit, not your chance. For rent levels: the median asking rent is CHF 2,550 in Zurich and CHF 1,924 in Bern (aptari feed, 9 November 2026).
- Cover letters drafted from your dossier in four languages (Pro and Ultra). Add your five lines about the business.
- Apply with Aptari writes the message in the listing's language and adds your private dossier link, wherever the button shows. You paste and send it yourself.
This is general information, not legal advice.