Question 1

How much do household contents and personal liability insurance cost?

Accepted Answer

There is no general answer to this question. This is because the premium amount for household contents insurance and personal liability insurance depends on various factors.
 For example:

Place of residence
    Type of building
    Sum insured for contents
    Any desired additional insurance
    Other individual factors

Use our premium calculator to calculate the premium for your individual living situation.
A discount is available in the following cases:

Combination discount: combined discount of 10 percent on household contents insurance (excluding damage caused by natural hazards) and personal liability insurance if you have taken out motor third party liability insurance or life insurance with Zurich.
    Young person's discount: discount of 20 percent on your household contents insurance and 30 percent on your personal liability insurance if you are between 18 and 25 years old. 
    Newcomer discount: discount of 10 percent on your household contents insurance and 20 percent on your personal liability insurance (excluding damage caused by natural hazards) if you are between 26 and 30 years old.

Question 2

Which insurance policies do I really need for my first apartment?

Accepted Answer

Basically, there are no compulsory types of insurance for your first rented apartment. However, we recommend that you take out at least contents insurance and personal liability insurance.
Contents insurance insures your belongings. For example, it pays for the damage if your home is burgled.
Personal liability insurance pays for damage you accidentally cause to others. For example, if you scratch your neighbor's car with your bike.
Good to know: Landlords demand that tenants have personal liability insurance.

Question 3

What is the sum insured and how do I calculate it?

Accepted Answer

The sum insured corresponds to the total value of your home contents. But who can tell you the value of their belongings at the drop of a hat? This is why you shouldn't just blindly rely on the standard values given by the online calculator. Because the tool doesn't know that you have expensive ski equipment, a mountain bike or a wardrobe full of clothes.
If you're unsure, go around the apartment with a notepad and add everything up. When doing this, write down the price you would have to pay today to buy the items again. 
Please note: If you set your sum too low, you run the risk of only being compensated for part of the loss, should you need to make use of your insurance.

Question 4

Is joint insurance coverage needed in shared accommodation?

Accepted Answer

It is possible, with a shared apartment, to take out joint personal liability cover and household contents insurance. However, this is inadvisable for two reasons:

Since roommates in a shared apartment often change, the insurance must be continuously adjusted with each change. In addition, those leaving the apartment lose their insurance coverage.
    In a joint insurance policy, all roommates have equal coverage. However, it is possible that not all roommates require the same insurance coverage. For example, if one of your roommates only has a little furniture or another owns an expensive musical instrument.

We therefore recommend that each roommate takes out their own personal liability and household contents insurance.
Good to know: damage caused by roommates to one another are usually not covered by personal liability insurance.

Question 5

I am moving in with my partner. Can we merge our insurance policies?

Accepted Answer

You could combine your household contents and personal liability insurance and save money. The Relax Assistance travel insurance can also be shared so that you benefit from a lower premium.

Question 6

Who pays for damages to my possessions that have taken place during my move?

Accepted Answer

If your friends damage something while helping you to move, their liability will be limited as they were doing you a favor. In this case, your friends' liability insurance will likely only cover a portion of the damage.
If you make use of a removal company, you should look at their general terms and conditions (GT&Cs) before entering into an agreement. Take a look at the amount for which the removal company is liable, because they may limit their liability. Clarify whether there are certain damages they cannot be held liable for. In any case, it is worth taking out special transport insurance.
Good to know: With Zurich your household contents are protected during the move up to a value of CHF 2,000, provided you have taken out the supplementary insurance "Accidental damage to contents".

Question 7

How can I save money when moving?

Accepted Answer

Moving always costs money. But there are also ways to save:

Friends as removal helpers: Maybe you can motivate four or five friends to help you move with the offer of a tasty pizza. And your parents or siblings may also be willing to help. If you don't hire a removal company, you can save several hundred francs. But be careful: If your friends help you move, they are only liable to a limited extent if they break something during the move.
    Transport vehicle: See if your friends or acquaintances can help with a transport vehicle. You can certainly get this cheaper than from a removal company. However, make sure you are properly insured. Borrowed car insurance protects you in the event of an accident.
    Sell things: Instead of throwing things away, you can sell some of your furniture, clothes or books. Place a classified ad on the Internet or sell your things through social media channels. 
    Buy used furniture: Can you take over a bed, a wardrobe or another piece of furniture from the previous tenant? This not only saves you money, but also the time needed to dismantle and reassemble the furniture.
    Used moving boxes: You don't necessarily have to buy new moving boxes. Used cardboard boxes that are in good condition can be used again. So keep an eye out among friends and acquaintances for used moving boxes.

Question 8

What should I look out for with moving boxes?

Accepted Answer

Moving boxes play an important role when moving home. Because you transport your belongings from your old home to your new four walls in them. To ensure that your belongings arrive at their new destination undamaged, you should pay attention to the following properties when choosing a box:

Handles or grips: Get boxes with handles or grips. Otherwise, the boxes may become difficult to handle during transport.
    Stability: Make sure the moving boxes are sturdy and stable. For heavy items, use boxes made of double-wall cardboard instead of single-wall, with a reinforced bottom.
    Size: Be careful not to use boxes that are too big. Because big boxes get very heavy very quickly. However, most adults can carry around 30 kilograms without any problems.
    Uniform shape: So that you can stack the boxes well, you should get as many moving boxes as possible in the same size.
    Labeling: To make it easy to keep an overview in the jungle of boxes, make sure you have ones that can be written on. You should therefore have boxes with text fields.

Tips for a "sustainable" move: You don't necessarily have to buy new moving boxes. Plastic rental boxes offer an environmentally friendly alternative to the ordinary cardboard box. You can rent such boxes for your move and then return them afterward. Used cardboard boxes that are in good condition can be used again. So keep an eye out among friends and acquaintances for used moving boxes, before buying new ones.

Question 9

Change of address: Who do I have to report my new address to?

Accepted Answer

If you move home, you must report your new address to the following institutions and companies:

Public authorities (residential community, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office, etc.)
    Insurance company (health insurance, household contents insurance, etc.)
    Energy suppliers (electricity, water, gas, etc.)
    Telecommunications service provider (Internet, telephone, etc.)

Go through our change of address checklist. That way, no one will be forgotten!

Question 10

I am moving in with my partner. Can we merge our insurance policies?

Accepted Answer

You could combine your household contents and personal liability insurance and save money. The Relax Assistance travel insurance can also be shared so that you benefit from a lower premium.

Question 11

What do I have to pay attention to when moving home, is there a checklist?

Accepted Answer

Moving home can quickly become stressful. To ensure that everything runs smoothly and nothing important is forgotten, you can download a practical moving checklist as a PDF here.
For more tips on planning your move and information on which insurance will pay in the event of a claim, see our advice article

Hooray, your first home!

What protection do I need?

What does Zurich offer?

And what will it all cost?

Contents insurance

From CHF 122 a year

Security deposit insurance

From CHF 135 a year

Pillar 3a or 3b

From CHF 50 per month

First apartment and lots of questions?

Contents Insurance

Private liability insurance

Retirement savings account 3a

First home