This is how the housing shortage in Switzerland will be tackled

The tenants’ association is fed up with “exploding” rents and the scarcity of affordable housing. It urges politicians to take action against the “big returns” from real estate groups, primarily rent controls.

The tenants’ association (MV) reported in front of the media in Bern on Monday that 10.4 billion Swiss francs will be stolen from tenants through abused rents. In 2021 this was CHF 370 per month per tenant household. MV President and the Council of States Carlo Sommaruga (SP/GE) urged politicians to take action. Meanwhile, the poverty in the housing market is not only affecting those with low salaries, but also the middle class.

A quarter of the income is rent.

Those affected will have to take individual action against rising rents. Because they are needy and dependent on their homes, they often do not dare to seek their rights. Here, an institutional, automatic control mechanism is needed for rents and returns.

Tenants currently spend a quarter of their income on housing and energy. MV Secretary General Linda Rosenkranz has called for an attack on affordable housing in the form of nonprofit housing so that this doesn’t become unbearable for even more people. The promotion of non-profit housing is enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

In addition, municipalities and cantons need to remove the facilitation (Lex Koller) of the law on preemptive rights for private real estate, non-profit residential construction zones and real estate acquisition by persons abroad. The confederation, cantons and communes should coordinate their work in favor of a national housing strategy and land control in the interests of the people.

Concomitant measures needed

MV demands that renewals no longer lead to layoffs. For pension funds as large real estate owners, MV requires a change in accounting. The property should be booked at investment value rather than market value. The continuous increase in book value leads to a continuous increase in rent to maintain the level of income.

MV Vice President and National Council Member Michael Töngi (Greens/LU) warned that the rise in the benchmark benchmark interest rate for rents is imminent. Tenants are already struggling with rising energy costs.

With the rising reference interest rate, the burden will increase even more. The increase will affect people who have just moved into an apartment. Accompanying measures are also needed for tenants when it comes to energy costs.

While the burden of the tenants was getting heavy, MV continued his criticism, saying that “the real estate lobby was launching various attacks against the tenancy law at the same time”. Protection against layoffs must first be reduced and, in a second step, rents must be raised further.

At the spring session of the National Council on March 7, the association demands that these attacks be stopped before the debate begins. Parliament should not engage in various approaches to abolish tenancy law. MV stated that it will use all tools to improve the tenant situation. (SDA)

Source : Blick