Property & tenancy law in Genève

Tenancy disputes in Geneva start before the Commission de conciliation en matière de baux et loyers at rue de l’Athénée 6-8, made up of a judge and two assessors, one from tenants’ and one from landlords’ organisations. A written request in French, signed, names the other side and what is sought; in principle a hearing follows within two months. The commission deals with rent amounts, terminations, extensions, defects, payment claims and rental security, and there is no charge (Judiciary of Geneva, checked 21 Oct 2026).

If no agreement is reached, the commission issues an authorisation to proceed before the Tribunal des baux et loyers. It can instead put a judgment proposal to the parties for amounts up to CHF 5,000 or for disputes about deposited rent, unfair rent, termination or extension, and it decides at the claimant’s request up to CHF 2,000 (Judiciary of Geneva, checked 21 Oct 2026). No court costs are levied in Geneva’s tenancy jurisdiction, proceedings are in French and professionally qualified agents may represent parties (Canton of Geneva, checked 21 Oct 2026).

Rights over buildings are recorded at the Office du registre foncier, rue des Gazomètres 5-7, whose register is presumed accurate and complete and which orders certified extracts (Canton of Geneva, checked 21 Oct 2026). Before registering the sale of a flat in a scarce category, the registry checks that the conditions of article 39 of the LDTR are met and refuses the entry otherwise (Canton of Geneva, checked 21 Oct 2026).

Newcomers announce their arrival to the cantonal population and migration office (OCPM), route de Chancy 88 in Onex (ge.ch OCPM, checked 21 Oct 2026). Most procedures run online through an e-démarches account on ge.ch, and the counters open by appointment only. The deadline after arrival is 14 days (2026) (ge.ch arrival, checked 21 Oct 2026), and a first B or L permit costs an EU/EFTA adult CHF 65 (Canton of Geneva, checked 21 Oct 2026). The steps are in registering at your commune.