Renting in St. Gallen: more choice, same paperwork

St. Gallen is one of the few places on this site where the numbers favour tenants a little. The Canton of St. Gallen had a vacancy rate of 1.16% on 1 June 2026 — above the national 0.93% and more than twice the Canton of Zurich’s 0.52%. Good flats still go quickly, and the same paperwork applies as everywhere else.

The market you are walking into

A vacancy rate above one percent shows up in the rules, too: St. Gallen is not among the cantons that require landlords to use the official initial-rent form, so with a new lease you will not automatically see what the previous tenant paid. Ask — and keep in mind that you can still challenge an abusive initial rent within 30 days of moving in.

Ordering your debt register extract

The city’s debt enforcement office issues extracts for people who live in the city of St. Gallen, or did in the last five years:

• Online: CHF 18, payable by credit card only (Mastercard, VISA or Postcard) — no debit card, no invoice. The extract is sent to your home address; if you enter another address, attach a copy of your ID.
• At the counter: collect it during opening hours and pay in cash or by debit card.

Elsewhere in the canton, order from the debt enforcement office of your commune. If you have just arrived in Switzerland, start with the newcomer guide.

Registering after you move

Registration is due within 14 days of moving in, under Art. 6 of the cantonal act on residence (sGS 453.1); late registration can be fined up to CHF 200. You can register online through eUmzugCH or at the counter of the city’s population services with an official ID. The lease or another proof of residence must be enclosed.

Your lease in St. Gallen

• Initial-rent form: not required in the Canton of St. Gallen. The 30-day deadline to challenge an abusive initial rent still applies — see the initial rent guide.
• Conciliation authority: for the city of St. Gallen, the Schlichtungsstelle für Miet- und Pachtverhältnisse, Rathaus, 9001 St. Gallen.
• Reference rate: if your rent is based on a rate above today’s 1.25%, check the rent reduction calculator.

Tactics that help in St. Gallen

• Have a credit card ready for the online extract. Debit cards are not accepted online; if you only have one, go to the counter.
• Ask for the previous rent. Without the compulsory form you have to ask; the answer tells you how the rent was set.
• Apply in German. St. Gallen is German-speaking; the cover letter generator writes a German letter.