Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

RENTING

Why there is a push in Switzerland to make buildings higher

Tall residential buildings are not very common in Swiss cities, but efforts to change this are gathering strength.

Published: 9 April 2024 13:41 CEST
Why there is a push in Switzerland to make buildings higher
More living space can be created by building on top of existing houses. Image by Ralph from Pixabay

Many of Switzerland’s cities are suffering from a chronic housing shortage, with the demand for accommodation far exceeding the available supply.

Though a number of measures have been proposed — for instance, loosening certain regulations which slow down construction of new buildings, such as noise ordinances — the Swiss Tenants Association has said current plans lack “rapid and effective measures.”

READ ALSO: Why Swiss tenants are unhappy with plan to solve housing shortage

Reaching new heights

Another possible solution currently on the table addresses the scarcity of land for new constructions.

“This is why expansion must absolutely take place at height,” the Liberal-Radical Party (PLR) said in a press release. 

This means that additional living space should be created on top of current residential buildings.

To that end, “building and zoning regulations in Swiss cities must be adapted so as to systematically integrate the raising of one or two floors into urban plans.” 

“In addition, in all residential areas, the maximum authorised height of existing buildings should be  increased by at least three metres. This should make it possible to add an additional floor or two for housing, where possible,” the party states.

The ‘where possible’ clause would exclude historic buildings that cannot be altered and ones where adding more floors is not feasible for technical reasons.

Building ‘upwards’ not only creates space for more dwellings, but also helps stop urban sprawl and preserves agricultural land, according to  PLR’s MP Simone de Montmollin. 

What might happen next?

The party has started an online petition, which it urges all Swiss citizens who favour this change to sign. 

“Building and zoning standards in Swiss cities must be adapted so that the maximum permitted height for existing buildings in all residential areas is increased by three metres,” its text says. “This should make it possible to add an additional floor for housing, independently of the existing use.”

If and when the petition collects at least 100,000 signatures, the issue would be brought to a ballot box.

No details are available about the number of signatures collected to date.

Historic perspective

While the idea may sound ground-breaking, it is not.

As de Montmollin pointed out, already in the 16th century, houses were raised in Geneva to create accommodation for persecuted Protestants (Huguenots) fleeing France.

Much more recently, such ‘elevations’ have been possible in Geneva thanks to a law passed in 2008.

And in Zurich, the PLR, along with a multi-party coalition, launched a popular initiative for the raising of existing buildings.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

RENTING

How much will your rent in Switzerland rise by if you move house?

Housing costs are notoriously high in Switzerland, and moving to another flat won’t necessarily help you save money — in fact, you could end up paying more.

Published: 21 May 2024 11:24 CEST
How much will your rent in Switzerland rise by if you move house?

There is an unwritten rule in Switzerland that rent should not exceed one-third of income.

However, according to a new study conducted by the real estate company Wüest Partner, after a move to a new apartment, even a smaller one, a large portion of tenants are paying much more to cover the cost of new digs.

The study found that, on average, 28 percent of households spend more than a third of their income on rent after moving.

Why is that?

If you are looking for a new apartment and think that a smaller one will be cheaper, that is often not the case.

“A four-room apartment does not necessarily cost twice as much as a two-room apartment,” said Robert Weinert, head of immo-monitoring ar Wüest Partner Wüest Partner.

One reason is the persisting — and, in some cases, worsening — housing shortage.

Another is that when an old tenant moves out and a new one arrives, landlords have the right to increase the rent by up to 10 percent.

As a result, many older people, who find themselves alone after the children move out, live in large apartments they have had for many years.

For this very reason, the living space per person increases sharply from the age of 55 — these tenants live alone or with a spouse in their old apartments, which were previously occupied by three, four or five people, Wüest Partner said.

READ ALSO: Can you really save money on rent if you move into a smaller flat in Switzerland? 

Where do new tenants spend more than one-third of their income on rent?

Wüest Partner’s analysis found that this is especially the case in canton Geneva, where 56 percent of tenants see their rents exceed one-third of their earnings.

Zug is next with 40 percent, followed by Zurich and Vaud (36 percent), and Ticino (31 percent).

When looking at individual cities rather than cantons, this trend is most evident in the five largest cities — Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne and Zurich —where a four-room apartment in an older building costs on average around 1,900 francs per month with existing rental agreements.

If an apartment of this type is put on the market today, however, the rent will rise to 2,300 francs on average.

Landlords must show you the previous rent upon request, so you can compare the numbers before you sign the contract.

What if your new rent is more than 10 percent higher?

The most logical move is not to rent the apartment in the first place.

If you are already a tenant, you have the right to challenge an excessive rent, by reporting it to the Federal Housing Office (BWO) by a registered letter, but you must do so within 30 days of signing the lease. 

You have to explain why you signed the contract, knowing the rent was excessive. 

SHOW COMMENTS