FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Units in the residential complex of the Student Mentor Foundation Lucerne (SMFL) are rented exclusively to individuals who meet all of the following criteria:

• The person must be enrolled in an ongoing education program or full-time study.
• The educational institution must be located in Lucerne or the surrounding area.
• The person must not already reside near their place of study.
• The person must be at least 18 years old at the start of the tenancy.
• The person must not exceed the age limit of 30 years.

Ultimately, it is at the sole discretion of the management whether a rental agreement will be concluded or not. There is no entitlement to the conclusion of a rental agreement.

Viewings are only available virtually via the website. All units have the same layout and standard furnishing (basic equipment). The common areas may vary in layout depending on the apartment size and location. Floor plans are available as PDF files on the booking platform.

Bookings are made exclusively through the online platform www.studentroom.ch.
Available units are marked in green. Once a unit is reserved, it turns light blue. From the time of reservation, a payment deadline for the security deposit begins. All relevant information will be sent to interested tenants by email. After payment has been received, the rental agreement has to be signed.

Status display on the platform:

No. There is no waiting list, and no email notifications are sent when rooms become available. Vacant units are published on the online platform. It is recommended to check the website regularly.

No. For data protection reasons, contact details may not be shared in advance.

First, check whether the interested person meets the SMFL requirements (age and student status). Then inform the management. They will review eligibility and set a date when the room will be published online. The interested person must then make the reservation independently and promptly. A direct reservation for specific individuals is not possible.

The minimum rental period is six months. Taking this minimum rental period into account, the rental agreement can be terminated at the end of any month with two months' notice, except at the end of July and the end of December.

The security deposit ranges from CHF 1,000 to CHF 1,800, depending on the accommodation unit, and must be paid within the specified period after booking. It will be refunded at the end of the rental period, provided that the accommodation unit (rooms and associated common areas) is left clean and undamaged.

Yes. Cancellation is possible. However, a fee of CHF 300 will be charged for the administrative costs incurred.

No. Withdrawal is no longer possible at this stage. In this case, the rental agreement must be terminated in the normal manner.

The rent varies between CHF 550 and CHF 935, depending on the residential unit. The exact amount is specified on the online platform for each available residential unit.

The first rent payment must be received in the SMFL bank account before check-in. Without proof of payment (e.g., receipt), check-in is not possible.

Important: The rent account is not the same as the security deposit account.

The rent must be received in the SMFL's bank account by the last day of the previous month. Example: February rent = payment by January 31.

Payment slips can be requested from the administration by email. It is recommended that you set up a standing order to avoid missed payments.

If the rent is not paid or is repeatedly paid late, the administration may terminate the tenancy agreement.

The rent includes the following additional costs: Heating costs, hot and cold water, including basic fees, building maintenance, garden and grounds maintenance, snow removal, elevator including electricity and maintenance, general electricity costs including basic fee, operating fees, ARA/KVA/sewerage including basic fee, internet access, Serafe fees, administrative share of ancillary costs.

Check-in and key collection are only possible during the administration office hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, during official opening hours. An appointment must be made in advance. Check-ins on weekends, public holidays, Wednesdays, or outside of opening hours are not possible. After checking in, tenants can decide for themselves when they would like to move in.

Check-in takes place at the SMFL reception (Steinhofstrasse 15a, Lucerne) and takes about 20 minutes. During this time, important information is provided, any questions are answered, the apartment handover report is signed, and the keys are handed over. After that, tenants can go to their apartment on their own.

All residential units are furnished and include:

• Bed with mattress (Eichhof: 100 cm / Schweighof: 120 cm)
• Wardrobe
• Desk
• Chair
• Bookshelf
• Internet access is also available.

Each apartment has its own kitchen, living/dining area, and at least one bathroom.

Yes, additional furniture may be brought in. The basic furnishings provided by SMFL may not be removed or stored off-site. Your own furniture must be taken with you when you move out.

No, it is not possible to install your own connection. The SMFL provides one Wi-Fi broadband connection per residential unit. The ICT guidelines must be signed upon check-in.

Bicycles: A locked storage room is available.

Motorcycles: Parking spaces are available on request. The fee is CHF 20 per month.

Cars: When checking in and out, you may park in the parking spaces in front of building 15a for a maximum of two hours. In all other cases, parking is prohibited and will result in a fine.

The house rules are intended to ensure that all residents enjoy a pleasant living environment. Mutual consideration and tolerance between tenants is the highest priority.

The following rules are binding:

• Disturbances of any kind are prohibited, quiet hours must be strictly observed from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
• Pets (including small animals such as hamsters, mice, ornamental fish, etc.) are not permitted.
• Playing music is not permitted in any of the rooms.
• Smoking is strictly prohibited in the buildings. Designated smoking areas with ashtrays are available outside.

The signed rental regulations apply:

> Eichhof residential area
> Schweighof residential area

Tenants are obliged to leave shared areas such as the kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room clean after use. Food in the apartment must be stored and checked to ensure that pests or moths cannot nest or spread. Any costs for special cleaning or pest control will be distributed according to who caused them.

Semester cleaning takes place twice a year. The dates are announced in advance by the administration. The common areas must be thoroughly cleaned according to a specified checklist. The cleaning is then checked by the administration. If the cleaning is not satisfactory, it must be redone. If the cleaning still does not meet the requirements after the second check, professional cleaning will be arranged. The costs for this will be charged to the responsible persons.

No. Subletting is not permitted.

Every semester. Without valid confirmation, the rental entitlement ends two months after exmatriculation, but no later than upon reaching the age of 30.

All damage and necessary repairs (including in common areas such as laundry rooms, stairwells, or mailboxes) must be reported immediately to the property management by phone or email.

According to Swiss rental law, tenants are responsible for minor maintenance. This includes simple repairs that can be carried out independently (e.g., replacing light bulbs, replacing refrigerator seals, unclogging drains, tightening screws).

The landlord is responsible for all repairs that require specialist knowledge or cost more than CHF 150 per year. This also applies to defects in common areas (e.g., laundry room, stairwell, mailboxes, etc.).

For detailed information, please refer to the rental regulations and the relevant provisions in the Swiss Code of Obligations (see Art. 253 ff. CO).

If you lose your key, you must notify the administration immediately. The replacement cost is CHF 25 per key and must be paid in cash when collecting the replacement.

Door opening outside office hours:

• Emergency number: +41 58 678 34 64
• Cost: CHF 200 per call-out
• Important: Personal room doors will not be opened – only building entrances and apartment doors.

If you lose your laundry card, you can apply for a new one from the administration office. The replacement card costs CHF 30. Any remaining credit on the lost card cannot be refunded.

The minimum rental period is six months. The rental agreement can be terminated at the end of any month with two months' notice, except at the end of July and the end of December. Notice of termination must be given in writing and signed by hand. It must be sent either by email or delivered in person to the administration office of the Student Mentor Foundation Lucerne (Steinhofstrasse 15a, 6005 Lucerne).

A template for the termination letter can be downloaded here:
> Eichhof termination letter
> Schweighof termination letter

The notice period is calculated from the date on which the administration office receives the termination notice: For example, a notice of termination received by the administration on February 3 becomes legally valid on March 1. The two-month notice period begins on this date, meaning that in this example, the tenancy ends on April 30.

Mobility students or tenancies with fixed-term contracts do not need to be terminated separately. In these cases, the end date specified in the rental agreement applies.

It is possible to move out earlier, but the rent is still payable until the end of the contractually agreed rental period. The check-out date must always be agreed in advance with the administration. Check-outs are only possible during regular opening hours.

Check-out is only possible during the administration office's opening hours, specifically on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays during office hours. Check-outs on weekends, public holidays, or outside of opening hours are not possible. An appointment must be made in advance.

The administration will come to the apartment on the agreed check-out date to inspect it. The tenant must be present. The administration carefully checks the condition of the rented premises (cleanliness and damage). In addition to the tenant's own room, the shared areas such as the kitchen, bathroom, and living area are also inspected. The keys and laundry card must be returned on this date.

Before check-out, your own room and the shared areas you have used (e.g., kitchen, bathroom, living area) must be thoroughly cleaned. Of course, all roommates should help with the cleaning, but the responsibility lies with the person moving out. If the cleaning is insufficient, professional cleaning will be arranged and the costs will be charged to the person moving out.

The security deposit will be refunded approximately five to seven weeks after the end of the tenancy. The payment will be made to the account specified by the tenant. Any bank charges or currency differences will be borne by the recipient.