Your child is looking for a place in Lugano.
You want to know who manages it, what it really costs, where they will live.
This page lays out the contract, total prices, point of contact and location in plain terms — because your trust matters as much as their choice.
Operator dossier
Who manages it, and since when.
- Name
- [Operator name]
- Role
- Direct manager · Casa Studenti Lugano
- Operating since
- [year to be added]
- Scale
- 23 rooms across 7 apartments in Massagno, managed directly.
- Languages
- Italian · German · English · French
- info@casastudentilugano.ch
Reply within 24 hours on weekdays.
- Phone
-
By choice, we do not take phone calls
Every agreement stays in writing. It is our form of transparency: nothing said verbally that isn't also put in black and white by email.
What it really costs per month — a real example
Example: BASIC room with annual contract signed by 31 May.
| Room rent | CHF 599 |
| Fixed flat-rate charges (Nebenkosten) | CHF 130 |
| Electricity flat rate | CHF 20 |
| Monthly subtotal | CHF 749 |
| Annual discount −6% | −CHF 45 |
| Effective monthly total | CHF 704 |
Everything above is complete. No hidden items. No year-end top-ups.
One-time payments at booking
Availability hold fee
Deducted from the second semester instalment (in February) or the single instalment if you prepay annual/two-year/three-year.
CHF 2,500
Furniture deposit
Refundable at the end of the stay if there is no damage.
CHF 1,000
Key deposit
Returned when keys are handed back.
CHF 50/key
There is NO blocked Mietkautionskonto (in Switzerland that means 1–3 months' rent frozen for years). Only a furniture deposit + key deposit.
The contract in 1 minute
Duration
1, 2 or 3 years. Automatic discounts −6% / −8% / −12% on the semester price for the same room type.
Payment
Prepaid by semester (in September and February). Annual, two-year, three-year options available as a single payment with a discount.
Termination
With notice as per the Swiss Code of Obligations. Specific terms stated in the contract.
Deposit return
Within 30 days of the contract end, after verifying the condition of the room and keys.
Contract language: Italian. A courtesy English version is available on request.
Request a draft contract in PDF →Massagno — the neighbourhood
Where your child will live.
- USI 10 minutes on foot · SUPSI 10 minutes by direct bus
- Supermarket, pharmacy, bus stop right outside
- Quiet residential area with public street lighting at night
- Lugano city centre 12 minutes on foot · main train station 8 minutes
Massagno · Lugano · Ticino
Frequently asked questions from parents
Can I speak with the operator before the contract is signed?
Yes. Send an email to info@casastudentilugano.ch stating that you are a parent — the operator will reply directly and arrange a conversation in Italian, German, English or French.
Do I need to be a guarantor or co-signatory?
For students who are minors, an adult co-signatory (usually a parent) is required. For adult students it is not mandatory, though specific cases (e.g. an international student with no Swiss credit history) may require it. This is specified in the contract.
What happens if my child falls ill, changes university or wants to end the contract?
The contract provides for termination under Swiss CO (3 months' written notice before the official end date, except in cases of serious grounds). For exceptional situations, you deal directly with the operator — there is no call centre, you speak with the person who manages the property.
Are the deposits held in a blocked account?
No, and that is a deliberate choice. In Switzerland the standard deposit is in a blocked Mietkautionskonto (1–3 months' rent frozen for years). Here it is only CHF 1,000 furniture deposit (refundable) + CHF 50 per key. Your money is not sitting frozen in a bank.
Is there insurance on the room or the furniture?
The operator holds insurance on the property and the furnished items provided. The tenant is responsible for damage they directly cause, under Swiss CO. We recommend a personal private liability policy (Privathaftpflicht) — affordable annual cover.
Can we visit the property before signing?
Yes. Viewings are arranged by email — the operator agrees on a time and accompanies you directly. Virtual viewings by video call are possible for those abroad.
How do we communicate during the year if we have questions?
Email + Instagram. The same person who replies to you now will reply during the stay. By choice there is no phone channel — everything stays in writing.
My child is international — does the operator really speak English?
Yes. Italian, German, English and French, all fluent. Conversations with you and your child can be in different languages — that's not a problem.
Is there an emergency or operational contact if needed?
For technical emergencies (water leak, power cut) email + Instagram are monitored 24/7 — fast reply on weekdays, and always by the next morning on holidays. For health or safety emergencies, standard Swiss contacts apply (144 ambulance, 117 police, 118 fire brigade).
What happens at the end of the year regarding renewal?
The operator contacts your child approximately 2 months before the end date to offer renewal. Rates and conditions match those of the new academic year (any pricing updates communicated in writing in advance). No automatic renewal without explicit confirmation.
Every question gets a real person.
Write directly to info@casastudentilugano.ch or fill in the form below.
Casa Studenti Lugano is managed by the person who holds the keys, not by an agency. Massagno, Ticino. 23 rooms. 7 apartments. One operator.