Last Updated on 2 months by David Bergmann
When planning your moving day, you are suddenly faced with the question: Is it permitted to move on Sundays and public holidays? Because these days are ideal for a move due to time constraints. But what about noise and various moving activities such as furniture packing, hammering and drilling on these rest days? Do removal companies even work on these days? In this article, we try to clarify all these questions and help you organize your move as smoothly as possible without disregarding the law or the house rules.
- The legal situation in Switzerland
- Consideration for your new neighbors
- Removal companies and their working hours
- Tips for a smooth move
1. the legal situation in Switzerland
In Switzerland, moving on Sundays and public holidays is regulated by the Public Holidays Act. Although it is not prohibited by law, it is important to comply with the legal rest periods in order to protect neighbors or roommates and not impair their quality of life. This means that there are certain restrictions that you must observe if you want to move on such days.
Public holidays and Sundays: taboo for removals?
As mentioned above, moving on Sundays and public holidays is not generally prohibited in Switzerland, but there are a few hurdles. For example, there is a strict driving ban for trucks on these days. This serves to minimize noise pollution and traffic on the roads during quiet periods. In other words, if you decide to move on a Sunday or public holiday, you will unfortunately have to make do without a truck and use a smaller van or a car.
Carnival and other local specialties
Not all public holidays are regulated in the same way in all cantons in Switzerland. In some regions of Switzerland, such as Zurich, there are local traditions and events such as carnival that can influence the parade on certain days.
Other occasions, such as Good Friday or Corpus Christi, are not recognized as public holidays in all cantons, but these days are often at least considered “rest days” and noise pollution must therefore be avoided on these days.
Find out about such events in your region and plan your move accordingly.
2. consideration for your new neighbors
Tenancy law or the house rules stipulate that consideration must be given to other neighbors. This is especially true late in the evening and at night.
You should always observe the following rest periods:
- Night rest: From 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Midday rest: Usually between 12 and 1 pm
- Sundays and public holidays: All day
During these times, you can carry out moving activities, but only those that do not cause any noise disturbance, such as packing and unpacking boxes or painting walls.
Even if your move is so-called “work that cannot be postponed“, you should always be considerate of your new neighbors. This means that you should be as quiet as possible during the move. Avoid loud noises such as drilling into the walls or moving furniture on Sundays and public holidays.
Observe the house rules of your new home and the general quiet times to avoid conflicts. After all, you want to get off to a fresh start in your new home and feel comfortable without having to deal with the neighbors’ anger and annoyance as soon as you move in.
3. removal companies and their working hours
Removal companies generally do not work on Sundays and public holidays. Apart from the truck driving ban, they would have to obtain a special permit to carry out their work on Sundays and public holidays. In addition, they must charge a surcharge of 50% on top of the normal hourly wage for work on Sundays and public holidays. In short: booking a removal company for a Sunday or public holiday is not impossible, but it is very difficult.
So if you want to use the services of a removal company, you should plan your move on a day of the week other than a Sunday or public holiday.
Use weekday relocation and public holidays
A better option is to carry out your move on a working day. On weekdays, removal companies are available at cheaper rates and there are no restrictions on transportation and noise pollution. After a successful move, you can then use the holidays or Sundays to unpack your boxes in peace and settle into your new home.
4. tips for a smooth move
Here are a few useful tips to make your move in Switzerland stress-free and hassle-free:
- Plan in good time: Start your preparations early so that you have enough time to organize and apply for permits (e.g. no stopping). By booking your removal company in good time, you also ensure that you can choose the best day for your move.
- Moving boxes and furniture transport: Make sure you have enough moving boxes and clarify in advance how the furniture transport will be organized. You may need a furniture lift to move heavy items into your new home.
- Apartment handover: Clarify the handover of your old apartment and the apartment handover in your new accommodation in advance with your landlords or property managers. On Sundays and public holidays, you probably won’t be able to get anyone to hand over the apartment, so you should postpone this appointment to the next working day.
- Personal documents: Make sure to transport personal data and important documents safely to avoid loss or theft. Although (almost) all documents can be replaced or duplicates requested, this is usually time-consuming and can also be expensive.
- Communication with neighbors: Inform your current and future neighbors about your moving date and possible noise disturbances to avoid potential conflicts.
Conclusion
Moving in Switzerland on Sundays and public holidays can be complicated, as there are strict regulations regarding noise and road traffic. Most removal companies do not work on these days, so it is advisable to schedule your move on a working day and then use the public holidays or Sundays to unpack. Always observe the legal regulations and be considerate of your new neighbors to ensure a harmonious start to your new home. If you follow these tips, nothing will stand in the way of a successful move in Switzerland!
Leave a Reply