Buying an apartment or chalet in Crans-Montana to rent out

A market shaped by the second home

The Haut-Plateau is one of the most established second-home markets in Switzerland: the municipalities of Crans-Montana, Lens and Icogne have a high proportion of holiday homes and exceed the 20% cap set by the Lex Weber. The direct consequence for the investor: since 2013, the construction of new classic second homes has been frozen there, and the supply of freely usable homes is essentially limited to the existing stock - a scarcity factor that structurally supports the value of properties with grandfathered rights.

On the demand side, Crans-Montana combines assets that few Alpine resorts bring together: a south-facing plateau famous for its sunshine and its view over the Valais Alps, the Crans-Montana-Aminona ski area in winter, and a strong summer season driven by golf - with the Omega European Masters as an international fixture -, hiking and a resort life that runs all year. Add a decisive logistical advantage: the resort is accessible by car and by funicular from Sierre, which widens the clientele to families, spontaneous weekends and business stays - where other destinations depend on constraining access logistics.

Lex Weber at purchase: the check that comes before everything else

Before discussing price, view or renovations, only one question matters: what is the property's status in the land register? A home "created under the old law" - built or authorised before the 2013 freeze - is free in its use: you can occupy it, leave it empty, rent it out annually or short-term. It is the most sought-after status, and it covers the greater part of the Haut-Plateau's stock.

A home authorised after the freeze may on the contrary carry a tourist-use designation: it must then be offered for rental on the market, sometimes under precise terms, and this obligation follows the property when it is resold. For a rental investor this is not necessarily a defect - you intended to rent anyway - but it reduces the flexibility of personal use and the pool of buyers at resale: the price must reflect it. Land register extract, building permit file, condominium rules: these documents are checked before the offer, not at the notary's. The full framework - notification to the municipality, guest declaration, tourist tax - is detailed in our guide to the short-term rental regulations in Crans-Montana.

What drives rental income on the Haut-Plateau

In Crans-Montana, a short-term rental's income is decided by precise criteria. The double season first: a property that appeals both to winter skiers and to summer golfers and hikers rents a large part of the year, where a single-season resort concentrates everything into a few weeks - and the week of the Omega European Masters, in late August, is one of the demand peaks of the year. Location next: proximity to the golf course and the centre of Crans, to the lift departures or the funicular in Montana, walking distance to shops and restaurants. The property itself finally: exposure and sunshine, an open view over the Rhone valley and the Alps, a usable terrace or balcony, a parking space - a real argument in a resort where guests come by car - and the standard of renovation.

We deliberately do not publish generic yields: between a studio needing a refresh on the outskirts and a renovated apartment facing the golf course, the gaps are too wide for an average to mean anything. What experience shows is that a well-managed short-term rental earns noticeably more than an annual lease, and that the plateau's double season smooths income over the year. In your projections, deduct the tourist tax (collected from guests), condominium charges, maintenance and the management commission - our model: 25% of the net amount, after deduction of fees, with no fixed costs and no lock-in. For a specific property, our free audit quantifies the potential night by night, season by season, with an answer within 24h.

Where to buy: Crans, Montana, Aminona or the heights?

Crans: the chic heart of the resort - golf, boutiques, restaurants. An apartment within walking distance of the centre and the golf course targets the most international clientele and rents across both seasons; it is also the most liquid sector at resale.

Montana: the historic hub, around the funicular arrival and Lake Grenon. A good compromise between resort life, access to the slopes and the diversity of the stock - from studios to large family apartments.

Aminona: the eastern gateway to the ski area, quieter and closer to nature. An "authentic mountain" positioning that appeals to families and long stays, provided the listing and transport to the centre are handled well.

The heights (Plans Mayens, Vermala): chalets and apartments with the most spectacular views of the plateau, in complete calm, a few minutes by car from the centre. This is high-end territory - and here again, the parking space and the quality of the view drive the nightly rate. In every case, the investor's reflex remains the same: assess each address by what the guest is looking for, not only by what pleases the buyer.

Buying as a non-resident: Lex Koller and the condominium

Beyond the Lex Weber, which governs the second-home stock, a buyer domiciled abroad must contend with the Lex Koller: the purchase of a holiday home by a person without domicile in Switzerland is subject to authorisation, within annual cantonal quotas, with rules on the surface area and the use of the property. Unlike some resorts closed to foreign buyers, such acquisitions remain possible in Crans-Montana under conditions - but the eligibility of the property and of the buyer must be checked case by case, according to nationality, residence permit and domicile, before even visiting.

The condominium deserves the same attention: a large part of the Haut-Plateau's stock is under condominium ownership, and some rules restrict or regulate short-term rental. Administration rules, minutes of the latest general meetings, charges and renovation fund: these documents are read before the offer. We review them with you and calibrate a realistic project - property status, condominium constraints and real rental potential - so that your property is rentable from the day you get the keys.

From the viewing to the first booking: how we support you

Buying to let is decided before the signature: that is when the Lex Weber status, the condominium rules, Lex Koller eligibility where relevant, and the consistency between the asking price and the income achievable at that precise address are verified. Our purchase support service comes in exactly there: analysis of the property from the rental angle (income simulation night by night, season by season), regulatory checks and furnishing recommendations to maximise the average rate. After the acquisition, our concierge service in Crans-Montana takes over - listings, dynamic pricing, welcome, cleaning, tourist tax - so that the first booking lands in the very first season.

Further reading