More and more people, fewer and fewer new apartments
Parmelin warns of socio-political tensions
Free apartments are rare in Switzerland. There is actually a need for more and more living space – especially affordable ones. Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin warns of “socio-political tensions” if the situation does not improve.
Published: 5 minutes ago
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There are only a few vacant apartments in Switzerland.
There are currently very few vacant apartments on the market. The vacancy rate fell to 1.31 percent in 2022 – a record low, as the “SonntagsZeitung” writes. And the trend continues to fall. In addition, there has not been a decline of the kind seen in the last two years for decades.
«An insufficient supply of housing can restrict economic development. Socio-political tensions are also possible when rents rise and people on modest incomes can no longer find an apartment,” warns Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin (63) in the article. The Federal Office for Housing (BWO) is therefore planning various measures that affect tenancy law and spatial planning, among other things.
More cheap apartments in demand
According to Parmelin, it is primarily the construction and real estate industries that are challenged. There is a need for more and cheaper housing. Better framework conditions might be needed for this. It should specifically address the needs of society, especially the older generation.
“We can assume that 50,000 new households will be created every year – and are looking for an apartment,” says Parmelin. Partly because of immigration. But also because households are getting smaller and smaller. In recent years, the reduction in households has at times contributed even more to growth than immigration, writes the “Sonntagszeitung”.
More people than apartments
Between 2017 and 2021, net immigration averaged 57,300 people. Parmelin estimates that it will rise to 80,000 people in 2022. Last year, 70,000 people came to Switzerland from the Ukraine alone.
The problem: In contrast, housing production has been declining since 2018. Building costs are rising, and building in general has become more and more demanding. “The processing of planning applications has been extended from 90 to 150 days,” says Parmelin. While 46,000 apartments were still being built in 2021, there are likely to be even fewer in 2022. (came)