Electric heat pumps have a lower carbon footprint than gas and oil heating systems. They are more energy efficient, and, when gas, coal and oil electricity generation are eventually phased out of the grid, they will be close to emission free. However, the number of heat pumps being installed in Switzerland is falling, and the […]
Swiss to vote on tenancy laws this weekend
Most people in Switzerland rent. This means the nation has strict tenancy rules, some of which are viewed as too strict by the current government. Both parliament and the Council of States have come up with two changes aimed at limiting the actions of tenants, which are considered abusive. These two votes are the result […]
Swiss residential property prices continue to climb
Data published this week by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) shows that residential housing has risen in price by 18% since 2019. In the most recent quarter (Q3 2024) it rose 0.7%. With prices rising by 19%, stand alone houses have risen by more than apartments (+17.4%) over the same period. With the exception of […]
Swiss government wants to invest more in bomb shelters
In 1962, Switzerland introduced a law that required underground bomb shelter space be constructed for all residents. Since then shelters have been built into houses and communal spaces have been built by municipalities for those living in a building without one. This week, the federal government announced plans to increase spending to renew and maintain […]
Vacant homes become increasingly scarce in Switzerland
Data published this week by Switzerland’s Federal Statistical Office (FSO) show a decline in the number of vacant homes, both to buy and rent in Switzerland. On 1 June 2024, there were 51,974 empty homes in Switzerland, representing 1.08% of the country’s total housing stock. The number was down by 2,791 (-5.1%) compared to the […]
Swiss homeowners association rejects government plan to charge all home owners for earthquakes
Last week, the government in Bern broadly supported a plan to force all property owners to contribute to the cost of earthquake repair. This week, a Swiss homeowners association rejected the idea, reported SRF. The government plan is a response to the attitude of many home owners towards insurance. Only 15% of buildings are insured […]
All Swiss property owners could be hit with earthquake bill
Switzerland sometimes feels like the land of insurance. Numerous costs that are covered by taxes in many places come instead in the form of compulsory insurance in Switzerland. However, some risks remain uncovered by compulsory insurance. Earthquakes are one such risk. This week, a plan to force all property owners to contribute to the cost […]
Swiss Green Party launches vote to force home solar panel installation
This week, Switzerland’s Green Party started collecting signatures to launch a referendum. The vote would ask voters whether to accept a plan to force those renovating or constructing a new building to install solar panels, reported RTS. The Green Party says there are enough roofs in Switzerland to ween the country off imported fossil fuel […]
Most Swiss empty-nesters not planning to downsize
Switzerland has one of the world’s tightest housing markets. Vacancy rates in cantons like Geneva (0.42%) and Zurich (0.53%) are extremely low. By comparison, the rate in New York City (1.4%) is around three times higher. The vacancy rate across Switzerland (1.15%) as a whole is lower than NYC. With such a shortage of housing, […]
Migration between Swiss cantons – gainers and losers
The population is growing exceptionally fast in Switzerland. The nation draws many migrants from the EU and takes in proportionally high numbers of refugees. Over the last 20 years, the nation’s population has risen by 20%, far more than in France (10%), Austria (12%), Italy (3%) and Germany (2%) over the same period. In addition […]
