Unter 1 Prozent: In der Schweiz gibt es immer weniger leere Wohnungen

Switzerland's federal statistics office reports a sixth consecutive drop in vacant housing, with the vacancy rate decreasing from 1% to 0.93% year-on-year. However, the trend varies across cantons, with Zurich standing out. The country is facing an increasing shortage of empty housing, a relatively new development. The situation changed in the 2010s due to low interest rates that encouraged construction, especially in rural areas.

A 2014 law revised the spatial planning act to curb growth and focus on green zones, shifting development to cities to densify housing. Nonetheless, this proved challenging, with many developers facing difficulties. Geopolitical factors, such as the Ukraine war and the Covid pandemic, have increased demand for housing, particularly for second homes.

Consequently, vacant housing is decreasing across all sizes, in both rental and purchase markets. The number of empty homes is decreasing in 20 cantons while increasing in 5, with significant reductions in Zurich. The shortage of empty housing is particularly acute in Zürich, where the vacancy rate has risen by 0.04 percentage points to 0.52% compared to the previous year.

In contrast, cantons like Zug and Geneva have the lowest vacancy rates. Despite the overall decrease, finding a vacant home can be a challenge, especially in Zurich and Winterthur. The shortage of empty housing is spreading beyond major cities, affecting regions where homes were easier to find in the past.