According to data recently released by the Federal Office of Statistics 45,748 dwellings were vacant in Switzerland at 1 June 2014. This is just over 1% of all dwellings and represents an annual 14% increase in vacancy rates. The biggest increases were in the Lake Geneva region, followed by the Mittelland, Zurich and eastern Switzerland. […]
Housing: Going up or down?
Given a growing return migration of Swiss and expatriate residents from across the border in France, but also economic uncertainty in Switzerland itself, there appears to be a contradiction in the way property prices are moving. Nation-wide, prices have continued to rise in 2014 – albeit at a slower rate. The Lake Geneva region, however, […]
Property buyers rush to dip into pension
BERN More and more people are rushing to use the second pillar of their pension plan to purchase a primary residence in the face of high prices and limited housing stock. While this may give a boost to the economy, especially the property market, not everyone is happy with the trend. There are three pillars […]
Why people are leaving Verbier
An increasing number of avid skiers are choosing to purchase or rent an alpine retreat away from the busy, hard-core party and ski scene of Verbier. The reasons for moving go beyond Verbier’s high prices. Over the last decade many local business owners in Verbier have moved “down the valley”. Instead of working and living […]
Trusting a stranger with your home
With summer holidays around the corner, many people will soon be heading off to exotic holiday destinations. Many holidaymakers will pay to stay in expensive hotels and resorts while leaving their homes in the beautiful Lake Geneva region empty. There is, however, a way to put your empty home to good use, save money and […]
Tenants happy – landlords not
GENEVA Those arriving in Switzerland to work, and those who have lived here for years, know well how expensive it can be to rent a house or an apartment in the Lake Geneva region – and that’s if you are lucky enough to find something. Negotiating contracts and understanding tenants’ rights may prove equally daunting, […]
Your tenant or landlord rights
As anywhere, trying to negotiate tenancy laws in Switzerland can be tricky. Disputes can range from the level of maintenance work the landlord is required to undertake to tenants refusing to pay rent. Whether you are the owner or the renter, it is best to have an expert on your side before things get out […]
Beware: Voracious pest
Your garden, terrace or balcony with its elegantly shaped box shrubs may be looking its best, but beware. The smart look of your home may be in jeopardy. Your decorative box shrubs may become the unwitting host and victim of the box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis), an unwelcome Asian invader with no natural predators. Originally […]
Buying in Geneva
If you are considering buying a place to live in Geneva or its environs, be aware that the purchase cost per square metre is expensive. Add to this the following requirements made of a purchaser and it becomes clear why, as we reported in a previous article, only 35% of Swiss residents own the property […]
Geneva housing – scarcity explained
Some statistics on Geneva housing may help explain the lack of accommodation in the area. A housing market is considered to be fluid when it has a vacancy rate between 1.5 and 2%, depending on who one speaks to. The vacancy rate column in the table below sets the stage. Geneva has been in a […]
