Rental Homes in Switzerland Drop 28% in 2 Years

Discover the latest findings from the Swiss Real Estate Association on the significant decrease in available rental properties in Switzerland over the past two years.

In a recent study conducted by the Swiss Real Estate Association (SVIT), it has been revealed that the number of available houses and apartments for rent in Switzerland has significantly decreased over the past few years. According to the data, there were 340,000 properties advertised for rent in Switzerland between April 2023 and March 2024. This marks a 13 percent drop compared to the same period in previous years, and a staggering 28 percent decline compared to 2021/22, with 130,000 fewer homes being offered for rent.

The study also highlighted that the supply of affordable homes in Switzerland has been hit the hardest, with the decrease in available properties being masked by an increase in spacious and expensive properties. In fact, 23 Swiss cantons have seen a drop in their housing supply over the last three years, with only Geneva, Ticino, and Zug experiencing an increase in available properties.

The scarcity of housing supply in Switzerland is further exacerbated by the speed at which properties are being snapped up by tenants. In Zug, for example, the average time between a property listing being posted online and taken down is just nine days, followed by Schwyz (14 days) and Zurich (15 days). In contrast, Jura and Ticino have much longer average lifespans for property listings at 54 and 42 days respectively.

This housing crisis in Switzerland is largely attributed to the country's growing population, fueled by an influx of international workers. As a result, property prices have become increasingly unaffordable for both buyers and renters. In fact, a Swiss real estate expert has predicted that over 500,000 new homes will need to be built by 2040 to meet the growing demand.

The dwindling supply of rental properties in Switzerland is a pressing issue that needs to be addressed in order to ensure affordable housing for all residents. With demand continuing to rise, it is imperative that measures are taken to increase the availability of homes in the country.