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Free Private listing on UrbanHome without registration Swiss property news · Replacement tenants
Find a replacement tenant for free: UrbanHome vs Homegate in 2026
Tenants moving out before the regular termination date want to find a suitable replacement tenant quickly and without extra listing fees. UrbanHome lets private users list free of charge without registration; on Homegate, the Classic replacement-tenant listing is free for one week, and Homegate states that during this free week only TenantPlus members can contact the advertiser.
Author: Nikita von Niederhäuser, UrbanHome real estate expert Updated: · Reading time: approx. 10 minutes
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7 days Homegate free week Classic replacement-tenant listing 03
TenantPlus Contact during free week according to Homegate's Basic tenant package 04
Article 264 CO early return of the property legal basis What does free mean?
Listing.
Duration.
Contact.
When looking for a replacement tenant, it matters not only whether a listing can be posted free of charge.
Compare the terms carefully
01
How long is it free?
The key question is whether only creating the listing, a limited publication period or the entire time until deletion is free.
02
Who can make contact?
It also matters whether all apartment seekers can contact the advertiser immediately.
03
Time pressure when moving out early
People who leave before the ordinary termination date want to reach enough serious interested parties as quickly as possible.
UrbanHome
How does UrbanHome's free replacement-tenant search work?
UrbanHome allows private individuals to list an apartment free of charge without creating a user account. [1]
01–03
Advertiser Free and without registration
List an apartment free of charge
No registration required
No promotion limited to seven free days
04–05
Duration & contact No subsequent weekly-fee model
No automatic switch to a regional weekly fee after seven days
Prospective tenants do not need a paid membership to contact the advertiser
Free listings as a platform principle
UrbanHome describes free property listings as a core platform principle. The platform is financed in part through advertising partners and business offerings. [2]
Homegate
How does Homegate's free replacement-tenant search work?
Homegate also offers private tenants looking for a replacement tenant a free starting option. According to its published terms, a Classic replacement-tenant listing is free for one week. [3]
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Free period
One week free
According to the published terms, a Classic replacement-tenant listing can be published free of charge for one week.
CHF
Afterwards
Regional weekly fees
After the free week, Homegate charges the usual regional weekly rates until the listing is deleted.
12M
Usage restriction
Once within twelve months
According to Homegate, the free offer can be used once per customer within twelve months.
+
Billing
Partly used weeks
Homegate notes that a weekly fee may be charged in full even for a partly used week. [3]
One free week does not mean a permanently free listing
Anyone keeping a listing active after seven days must consider the weekly costs shown during Homegate's listing process.
TenantPlus
Free online.
Restricted contact.
First seven days.
For replacement-tenant searches, the ability to make contact in the first few days can be important.
Homegate Basic tenant package
01
Only TenantPlus members
Homegate states that, for its Basic package for tenants, only TenantPlus members can contact the advertiser during the first seven days. [4]
02
Paid service for apartment seekers
Homegate describes TenantPlus as a paid service for apartment seekers offering earlier contact with selected private listings.
03
Different business models
The advertiser receives a free first week on Homegate, while contact during that period is limited to Plus users.
The first few days can be particularly important
Whether an exclusive contact phase is useful depends on the individual case. However, this differs from a contact model open to all advertisers and apartment seekers.
Direct comparison
UrbanHome vs Homegate: replacement-tenant search compared
Status: 7 August 2026. This comparison covers private replacement-tenant searches only.
UH
UrbanHome Private replacement-tenant search
Start: free
Registration: not required
Free duration: not limited to a 7-day free promotion
After seven days: no automatic regional weekly fee
Contact: no paid search membership required
Free offer: no comparable once-per-12-month rule stated
HG
Homegate Classic replacement-tenant listing
Start: free
Registration: user account required
Free duration: one week
Afterwards: regional weekly fees until deletion
Contact in the first seven days: only TenantPlus members for Basic tenant listings
Free offer: once per customer within twelve months
Scope of this comparison
Other Homegate listing packages and business offers are not covered by this comparison.
Practical implications
What does this mean for tenants?
The main factors are the duration of the search and the number of prospective tenants you can reach.
01
Short search
One week may be enough
For highly sought-after apartments, one week may be enough. Nevertheless, check whether contact options are restricted during that week.
02
Longer search
Extension fees become more important
If the search lasts several weeks, extension fees and the freedom to choose how long the listing stays online become important.
Two questions before publishing
How long will the listing remain online without any advertising fee? And how many people can contact the advertiser directly?
Swiss tenancy law
Solvent.
Reasonable.
Same conditions.
The property portal used does not change the legal requirements for a replacement tenant.
Article 264 CO
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Solvent and reasonable
The proposed replacement tenant must be solvent and reasonably acceptable to the landlord.
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Same contractual conditions
The replacement tenant must be willing to take over the lease on the same terms.
Several candidates can still make practical sense
The Swiss Tenants' Association notes that one suitable replacement tenant can be sufficient under the law. In practice, it still recommends several candidates because interested parties may withdraw before signing the contract. [5]
Legal notice
This article provides general information and does not constitute individual legal advice. In the event of a dispute, the competent conciliation authority, tenants' association or a legal professional can provide assistance.
Checklist
What to check when looking for a replacement tenant
01–05
Preparation Prepare the apartment and listing
Check the tenancy agreement and ordinary termination date
Set the desired handover date
Inform the landlord of the early return
Advertise the apartment with complete information and good photos
Check how long the listing will actually remain free
06–09
Applicants & handover Forward candidates with proof
Check whether all interested parties can make contact immediately
Collect applications and debt-register extracts from suitable candidates
Forward suitable replacement candidates to the landlord with proof
Request written confirmation that you have been released from the lease
Transparency
Transparency note on this comparison
UrbanHome itself offers a free replacement-tenant search service and is therefore not a neutral market observer.
For this reason, the comparison of Homegate's conditions is based exclusively on publicly accessible Homegate pages and links directly to the original sources.
Prices, product names and terms may change. Before placing a listing with another provider, always check the conditions displayed immediately before publication.
6 Sources Check original pages
07.08 Information date 7 August 2026
Sources
Sources and information date
Information as of: .
Third-party terms and conditions may change at any time.
- UrbanHome: free replacement-tenant search
- UrbanHome: About UrbanHome – free listings as a platform principle
- Homegate: find a replacement tenant for free – terms
- Homegate: create a listing online – free week and TenantPlus contact
- Swiss Tenants' Association: replacement tenants and early termination
- Fedlex: Article 264, Swiss Code of Obligations
More about renting
Related guides
01
Early move-out
Open guide → Terminate a rental apartment early
What you need to know about returning an apartment early and finding a replacement tenant.
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Renting
Open guide → All renting guides
More UrbanHome advice for tenants in Switzerland.
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News
Open news → All property news
Current developments in the Swiss property market.
Direct answers
Frequently asked questions about finding a replacement tenant for free
The most important answers, explained briefly.
8 Questions & answers
Yes. Private tenants can list their apartment on UrbanHome free of charge and without registration.
Under the currently published conditions, a Classic listing for private replacement-tenant searches is free for one week.
If the listing remains active, the usual regional weekly fees apply until deletion.
Homegate states that, for the Basic package for tenants, only TenantPlus members can contact the advertiser during the first seven days.
No. Homegate states that each customer can use this offer once within twelve months.
No registration is required for a private free listing.
No. One suitable, solvent and reasonable replacement tenant willing to take over the lease on the same terms can be sufficient under the law.
The early return of rented property is governed by Article 264 of the Swiss Code of Obligations.
UrbanHome Advisor View sources and conditions →
Key takeaways
Conclusion: free does not always mean the same model
UrbanHome and Homegate both provide a free starting point for replacement-tenant searches. But this comparison shows that «free» refers to different services.
On Homegate, a Classic replacement-tenant listing is free for one week. During those first seven days, Homegate states that only TenantPlus members can contact the advertiser for a Basic tenant listing; continued publication can then incur regional weekly fees.
UrbanHome, by contrast, positions its private replacement-tenant search as a free service without registration and without an automatic switch to a paid weekly model after seven days.
This difference matters to tenants who want a simple replacement-tenant search without advertising costs.
Find a replacement tenant
Find a replacement tenant for free on UrbanHome
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