The Classifieds on glocals!

Airbnb is great if you want to find someone for short stays, but Glocals classifieds are probably better for longer term. Anibis and Petitesannonces is also good

Watch out if you sublet it through airbnb without the consent of the regie, it was recently reported on the press that some agencies periodically scan the airbnb site to see if any of their apartments are being sublet without their approval.

It also depends how much you're charging.There was a reported case in Zurich where someone was paying 1200 or so in rent and subletting through Airbnb for over 2000. When the owner/regie found out they kicked him out. If the price is reasonable and the length of stay a few nights/weeks, at the moment there's not much the regie can do (you're taking the risk that the subletter might do damage to the flat, which you would then be responsible for)

Thanks I think we're too far out from the centre for most

expats

Thank you for the advice.

I wouldn’t say Choulex is that far out.  Successful sub-letting is a match between the quality of the offer and the income and life-style of the tenant(s).

@Matthew
AFAIK, if sub-letting is happening without the owner or regies permission it can provide the legal grounds for terminating the lease.  The price being charged is not a necessary factor in this, neither is whether the subletting is via Airbnb.
Saying that "there's not much the regie can do" is a little dangerous.

Yes, NMCP, you're right in your comments and I was careless in overly generalizing my comments. Subletting without permission is technically a violation of the lease, but doens't systematically end with termination of the lease if found out. 

Without knowing more about Julie's situation it's hard to give specific advice (long term sublet vs. shorter term, etc...)

With the example I gave - renting on Airbnb for shorter stays at a reasonable rate, unless neighbors complain or report to the regie, there's very little risk that a regie would ever find out or try and investigate. There's still a grey area with sites like Airbnb and regies aren't equipped enough to try and tackle members.

The most obvious signs of subletting is when people tape their names on letter boxes - regies are often in buildings either assessing damages or move in/out inspections and some pay close attention to letter boxes and investigate names that don't belong there. With short term Airbnb, you don't have these 'signs'. 

Airbnb hosting comes with more riskes than just the regies - damage, theft, squatting, neighbour disturbance, etc... and I'm in no way trying to condone it as a long term subletting option. Airbnb supposedly has a guarantee about damages and theft, but whenever there's an incident they request the member to negotiate the settlement directly with the accused party and only really step in if there's an escalation on social media. 

Julie, if you're looking for a long term sublet for up to a year, you should try and do it legally (and maybe even get the help from the regie), as you have the right to as long as the price is within the legal parameters. If it's for more than a year, it's a bit trickier, but might be worth mentioning to the regie/owner, depending on the relationship you have with them. With rental prices continuing to go down, especially in the left bank countryside, it might be financially more interesting to give up your lease and find a new place when you need it. You should have more selection for a lower price, although places directly in Choulex are hard to come by. 

"With rental prices continuing to go down, especially in the left bank countryside ..."  .... really? is there anywhere within 30km of the Swiss side of the Leman shore where prices are going down? Tell us where, please ... :))

Easy - Hermance, Anieres... even Vesenaz - Collonge/Bellerive. Some house prices are dropping 20-30% or more. I've seen a few houses recently also in Thonex that were renting for 7'500 2-3 years ago (new, minergie homes) that now are struggling to find people for 5'000/5'500.

You're not going to find a 3pcs for 800chf, but even the 4pcs and 5pcs flats are going down a little in places like Anieres, Jussy, Gy, etc... 

 As Julie is living in Choulex, which doesn't really have appartment complexes and she referred to subletting a 'home', I assume she's talking about a house, in which case prices, with very few exceptions, are dropping steadily.  

Just a small legal point. It is worth knowing that the regie can not decline you the right to sublet as long as you submit correctly the demand (with ID of the sub renter...) and it is reasonnable (a premium of 10-20% on basic rent is considered reasonnable, and the rest is obvious, not trying to pack 8-persons in a single flat...).

Failing to ask the regie first will get everybody kicked out of the flat for sure - I heard about that situation at least twice around me.