In Lausanne, a loan between individuals needs no special formality, but students, young workers and families should sign an acknowledgement of debt, pay the money by transfer and declare both the claim and the interest to the Vaud tax authority.
A university city on Lake Geneva
Lausanne brings together EPFL, the University of Lausanne and several other higher-education schools, along with the International Olympic Committee and many sports federations. This young, international population readily turns to family loans for housing or a year of study.
Students: a parental loan rather than a small credit
A Lausanne student without regular income struggles to obtain credit under the LCC, the federal Consumer Credit Act, because the lender must check repayment capacity. A written parental loan is safer; see our page on student loans between individuals.
Vaud study grants: worth checking before borrowing
The canton of Vaud awards study grants according to the family's financial situation. Before asking a relative or, worse, a stranger for money, a Lausanne student should ask the cantonal study grants office about any entitlement they may have.
What the acknowledgement of debt must contain
Names and addresses, the sum in Swiss francs, the handover date, any rate, the instalments and signatures are enough under Swiss law and make provisional release easier in Vaud debt enforcement. The federal framework appears on our page on private loans in Switzerland.
The LCC cap: 10 % for a small credit
Consumer credit offered in Lausanne by a bank or a specialist lender may not exceed an effective annual rate of 10 % in 2026. This maximum, published by the Federal Office of Justice, does not apply to an interest-free loan between relatives.
The Vaud tax office and family claims
The Vaud cantonal tax administration expects the lender to list the claim among securities and the interest as income, while the borrower enters the loan in the schedule of debts. A debt later written off may raise questions of gift taxation.
Debt enforcement in the Lausanne district
An unpaid creditor turns to the debt enforcement office of the Lausanne district when the debtor lives there. After the payment order and any objection, the signed acknowledgement of debt lets the creditor request provisional release from the competent judge.
The FRC, based in Lausanne
The Fédération romande des consommateurs, the French-speaking Swiss consumer federation headquartered in Lausanne, advises members on credit contracts and regularly warns about abusive practices. For an unbalanced budget, the Centre social protestant Vaud and Caritas Vaud offer debt counselling.
Crowdlending from Lausanne
Lausanne residents can use Swiss crowdlending platforms such as Cashare or Lend. These services ask for income details, a debt enforcement record extract and identity documents, so compare the final rate, platform fees and term before accepting any offer.
Fake lenders in French-speaking classified ads
Adverts for a «no-check peer-to-peer loan» circulate on classified ad sites and social networks across French-speaking Switzerland. What follows is familiar: a flattering contract, then a demand for an advance. Our list of reported fake private lenders helps spot these profiles.
Security over property in Vaud
If a large loan is secured on a flat in Lausanne or on the Vaud Riviera, a mortgage note must be drawn up by a Vaud notary and entered in the land register. Notarial and cantonal fees should be costed before anything is signed.
Filing a complaint in Lausanne
A victim of a loan scam goes to the Lausanne municipal police or the Vaud cantonal police to file a complaint. The victim should also report the fraudulent advert to the Federal Office for Cybersecurity and alert their bank without delay.
Organising a family loan in Lausanne
- Work out the borrower's real monthly budget with them, Lausanne rent and health insurance included, before setting instalments.
- Draft and sign a dated acknowledgement of debt in two copies, stating amount, interest and schedule.
- Transfer the sum from a bank or PostFinance account with the word «loan» and the contract date.
- Enter the claim and the debt in the respective Vaud tax returns every year until full repayment.
- Check any unknown lender on the FINMA warning list and with the FRC before sending a document.
- Send a reminder by registered letter, then apply to the district debt enforcement office if default persists.
Costs of a peer-to-peer loan in Lausanne
| Item | Estimate in CHF | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Interest-free parental loan | 0 | Written record advised even when free |
| Small credit from a lender subject to the LCC | Rate capped at 10 % (indicative, 2026) | IKO credit check and budget review |
| Crowdlending platform | Fees depend on the platform | Compare the total cost |
| Vaud notary for a mortgage note | Fees under the cantonal tariff | Only with real estate security |
| Fake advance demanded | Likely total loss | Complaint and alert to the bank |
Documents to prepare in Lausanne
- ID card or student B permit
- EPFL or UNIL enrolment certificate for a student
- Lease and monthly budget
- Signed acknowledgement of debt
- Transfer slip mentioning the loan
- Copy of the Vaud tax return
Typical mistakes in Lausanne
- Answering a «no-check» loan advert on a French-speaking Swiss classified ad site and paying an advance.
- Letting a student repay with no schedule, which gradually turns the loan into a gift disputed by the family.
- Sending your enrolment certificate and passport to an unknown lender, ideal material for identity theft.
- Agreeing to receive and forward money for a third party, a trap that can make you a money-laundering intermediary.
- Leaving the claim out of the Vaud list of securities and later having to explain a gap in wealth to the tax office.
Peer-to-peer loans in Lausanne: readers' questions
Can a foreign student in Lausanne borrow from a private individual?
Yes, nothing prevents a student holding a B permit from receiving a private loan. A written contract, repayments suited to their income and no upfront fees are essential. Be wary of offers aimed at international students on social media.
Is an interest-free loan between Vaud parents and children a tax risk?
A genuine, documented and repaid loan is not a gift. The risk arises when the debt is never repaid or is written off. The Vaud cantonal tax administration or a notary can explain the tax consequences of forgiving a debt.
Can the FRC review my loan agreement?
The Fédération romande des consommateurs informs its members about contracts and borrowers' rights. For a binding legal review, especially when security is involved, a Vaud lawyer or notary remains the right person to consult.
I already paid an advance to a fake Vaud lender: what now?
Contact your bank immediately to try to recall the payment, gather all the evidence and file a complaint with the police. Pay nothing more, even if the scammer promises a refund or later poses as an investigator recovering your funds.