Proposed Solution for Swiss Housing Crisis: Implementing Living Space Limits
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- 09 Jun 2023
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In an effort to alleviate the housing shortage in Switzerland, the Swiss Tenants' Association has put forth a comprehensive plan, which includes a unique approach: imposing limitations on the size of apartments or houses that tenants can rent. Recognizing the urgent need for action, Economy Minister Guy Parmelin convened a meeting on May 12, inviting real estate agents, landlords, homeowners, and tenants' associations to discuss potential solutions to the ongoing rental crisis plaguing the country. According to a recent report by Würst Partner, Switzerland is projected to face a deficit of 10,000 homes by 2024 and a staggering 50,000 homes within the next three years, leading to exorbitant rental prices nationwide.
The Swiss Tenants' Association has sounded the alarm, warning that the country is sitting on a social time bomb unless proactive measures are taken to address the skyrocketing rents. At the crucial talks on May 12, amidst various proposals put forward by experts, Carlo Sommaruga, the president of the association and a National Councillor, suggested the introduction of limitations on the housing choices available to prospective tenants.
Drawing inspiration from existing practices in public housing cooperatives in several Swiss cantons, the proposal aims to restrict the amount of living space that individuals, groups, or families can rent. According to the demands outlined in a document obtained by 20 Minuten, the association proposes that the minimum occupancy for each apartment should be calculated by subtracting one room from the total number of rooms available. This means that a single person would only be allowed to rent a two-room apartment, while a five-room flat would need to be rented by a group of at least four people.
Sommaruga, in an interview with the newspaper, emphasized that this measure would enhance housing efficiency. Michael Töngi, the association's vice president and another National Councillor, echoed this sentiment by stating the need for a discussion on the responsible consumption of living space and the potential for reduction. Töngi pointed out that individuals are often favored over families due to their reputation as "more agreeable tenants," resulting in single occupants occupying large houses that far exceed their needs.
However, not everyone supports the proposal. Philipp Matthias Bregy, a board member of the Swiss Homeowners' Association and a National Councillor, criticized the idea as a "massive restriction of property rights." Bregy argued that the system would lack flexibility, citing scenarios such as divorced parents wanting to care for their children substantially, which would be challenging in a two-room apartment. He also raised concerns about situations where individuals are left behind after someone's death, questioning whether they would be forced to vacate the premises.
Another board member, State Councillor Hannes Germann, expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of the plan, asserting that removing bureaucratic barriers to new housing construction is the only viable solution to overcome the crisis. Germann contended that rental price caps and restrictions, similar to those implemented in Geneva, have resulted in the "poorest housing stock in Switzerland" due to the inhibiting effects of regulations and bureaucracy on necessary investments.
