The rents will continue to increase, predicts the Confederation

The rents offered on the real estate market in Switzerland will continue to increase, warns the “Nzz Am Sonntag”. According to Martin Tschirren, director of the Federal Housing Office (OFL), the future annual increase could be between 3 and 5% per year. “The demand for housing remains greater than the supply,” he explains. The situation is aggravated by the slowdown in activity in construction.

Since 2016, building authorizations have decreased by a third party. “The constructions have not yet fallen in the same proportion, but they will continue to decrease,” said Martin Tschirren. To encourage new projects, the possibility of submitting appeals should be restricted, according to him, “in order to prevent new constructions to be delayed or blocked for opportunistic reasons”.

This idea finds a certain echo with national elected officials. “The persons concerned must be able to oppose a project, it is obvious. But the circle of those who can oppose should be reduced. We must also think about making those who file unjustified appeals pay and thus delay unnecessary projects, ”explains Philipp Matthias Bregy, president of the center and member of the steering committee of the Swiss Association of Land Owners (HEV).

Michael Töngi, national environmental advisor and vice-president of the Swiss Association of Tenants (ASLOCA), does not entirely share this opinion. “We can discuss the oppositions. But it should not be believed that they dictate the construction, ”he nuances. According to him, it is private companies that make the decisions to build or not, depending on profitability. The pressure on rents, adds Michael Töngi, will remain raised in urban centers.