Where will I live?
Before you arrive in Martigny the secretariat staff will assist you to find short-term accommodation. This accommodation will normally be in a 1-room studio apartment that is furnished and stocked with minimum provisions (i.e. sheeting, kitchen utensils etc). Once you have arrived in Martigny and settled in, you will need to find more permanent accommodation. Rental agreements are for 1 year, and rent is normally paid monthly. Most Rental Agencies require a 3-month bond. In addition to rent, tenants will be expected to pay 100 or 150 CHF per month for heating, hot water (chauffage), cable TV etc. You must also pay the “Responsibility Civil” which covers you against accidents. The cost is around 100 CHF per year and is available from one of the many Insurance Offices in Martigny.
Most apartment blocks have community washing machines available for tenants and tenants are allocated a specific time and day to wash. (Please also note that the majority of washing machines do not operate from 11am until 12.30 pm).
Many of Idiap’s PhD students choose to rent studio (1 room) apartments. These are usually furnished and on average cost around 550 CHF per month to rent. Of course rents differ widely according to location, amenities and size. The following average monthly rents may be used as a guide for a relatively new unfurnished apartment: 1 bedroom apartment 850 CHF, 2 bedroom apartment 1000 CHF, 3 bedroom apartment 1250 CHF. Apartments in Valais are advertised according to the number of pieces (rooms). When calculating the number of rooms in an apartment, kitchens and bathrooms are not included and large entrances are counted as half a piece i.e. a 1 bedroom apartment with bathroom, kitchen, living room and a large entrance is advertised as 2.5 pieces. Please be aware that unfurnished apartments will not come with any light fittings (except perhaps in the kitchen) and some will not have a stove/ oven.
Following are some possible sites to check for rental ads:
Le Nouvelliste This is good to see the ads first thing in the morning so you can be the first to call. http://www.nfannonces.ch/nouvelliste/home/index.htm http://www.immostreet.ch/
Martigny Announcements - occasionally an apartment gets advertised here http://www.martigny.ch
Duc Sarrasin They have one staff member who speaks good English.http://www.duc-sarrasin.ch
Swissimo http://www.pbbg.ch
Bernard Nicod http://www.bernard-nicod.ch
Geco http://www.geco.ch/
