The guiding principle for a Swiss application form is simple: ask only what you genuinely need to judge the tenancy, and nothing about who someone is as a person.
Questions you MAY ask
- Identity: name, date of birth, contact
- Ability to pay: declared income, employer, contract type, position, length of employment
- Betreibungsauszug: dated within the last three months
- Household size: number of occupants (for a sensible fit, not as a way to screen on relationships)
- Pets/smoking: only if the listing has a policy
- Previous tenancy: prior address, previous-landlord reference
- Parking need: if the listing has parking constraints
Questions you must NOT ask
Switzerland's equality and anti-discrimination rules put these off limits: - Nationality beyond the legal right to rent - Religion or confession - Marital status as such - Pregnancy or family planning - Sexual orientation - Disability (unless it genuinely affects accessibility) - Age (unless the contract truly requires it) - Political views, union membership - Race or ethnic origin - Health, criminal record
Borderline
- Employer reference: fine, but black out personal data you don't need
- AHV number: only if the contract requires it
- Bank details: only after the contract is signed
- Photo: not appropriate on an application · the ID document verifies identity
How aptari helps agencies do this right
aptari is one of Switzerland's top four platforms (aptari, Homegate, ImmoScout24 and Flatfox) and the smartest way to list and fill a flat. When you create a listing, a built-in check blocks any filter on a protected characteristic, so you can't accidentally publish a discriminatory listing. Your applicant inbox is ranked by Match Score on the things that are allowed to matter (income fit, documents, how well someone matches the listing, and references), and Document AI checks the dossiers for you. You attract good tenants and rank them fairly, without ever asking a question you shouldn't.
See discrimination in tenant selection and how to rank applicants fairly.