Rents are rising faster than ever

Tenants looking for a new flat in Switzerland had to dig deeper into their pockets in all cantons in 2022. As a result, last year saw the highest annual rent increase since 2009, when the numbers started to add up. And the probability of further price increases is very high.

According to the rent index that Homegate has collected together with ZKB, the rents requested – namely the rents for the advertised apartments – increased by 2.8 percent in 2022. This significant increase is due to increased shortages in the housing market, as well as increased heating and ancillary costs, according to research published Tuesday. In December, the index increased by 0.2 percent compared to the previous month.

All cantons affected by the increase

In addition to the record increase in rents, the breadth of the hikes was another feature. The rents requested did not fall in any of the cantons. In recent years, rents have risen even in cantons such as Valais, Ticino or Jura, where the search for new tenants has been rather hesitant.

Rents rose the most in Graubünden, up 6.7 percent. Cantons such as Aargau, Thurgau and Solothurn, which had previously shown a downward trend in demanded rents due to high vacancy rates, also increased.

It will be even more expensive

According to Homegate, there was no urban migration during Corona as is often discussed. Rents rose 6.2 percent in Zurich, 5.3 percent in Lugano, and 3.7 percent in Basel and Lucerne.

According to experts, rent increases can also be expected in the new year of 2023, given the declining construction activity and stable net migration. Currently, supply still cannot meet demand, especially in urban areas.

As long as this is the case, the basis for rising rents remains. (SDA/dvo)