Bern Requires Residential Buildings to Have Charging Stations
The federal government is taking direct action regarding apartment buildings. A proposal released on June 19, 2026, aims to require landlords and condominium owners to install the basic infrastructure for electric vehicle charging stations when necessary. This is precisely what is sparking massive resistance in the real estate industry.
The catalyst is not an abstract climate debate, but a specific legislative amendment. On June 19, 2026, the Federal Council submitted the amendment to the Energy Act for public comment. It implements Motion 23.3936 by Jürg Grossen, which Parliament adopted in June 2025, and establishes the legal basis requiring owners’ associations in residential properties to install basic charging infrastructure for electric vehicles if eligible residents request it.
The scope of this measure is narrower than the strong reactions might suggest. The proposed entitlement applies only to individuals who live in the property or residential complex themselves and whose parking space was provided by the same landlord along with their apartment. Subtenants are also to be included. Furthermore, the installation of the infrastructure must be reasonable. According to the bill, the basic installation includes the power line to the parking space in question, a system for tracking electricity consumption, and, if necessary, load management.
Property Rights Become a Political Issue
It is precisely this point that strikes at the heart of the industry. Even during the parliamentary deliberations, the majority of the relevant Council of States committee warned against a disproportionate encroachment on property rights and private autonomy. Nevertheless, the Council of States passed the motion on June 11, 2025, by a vote of 24 to 18. For property owners, property managers, and building owners, the core of the debate is thus clear. It is not just about individual wall boxes, but about a legal right to building-side preparation.
This becomes particularly relevant in existing buildings. In new construction, charging infrastructure can be incorporated relatively easily. In existing multi-unit residential buildings, however, additional wiring, load management, and billing systems must contend with cramped utility rooms, condominium ownership structures, tight investment budgets, and sensitive cost allocation issues. The federal government does note that the costs of the basic installation in a rental agreement can generally be passed on to the parking space rent. However, this only partially alleviates the conflict because the investment must first be organized, technically planned, and legally and properly allocated.
Bicycle Parking as a Second Contentious Issue
The second source of outrage concerns stricter requirements for bicycle parking spaces, as described in the background material. However, in the current research conducted through August 19, 2026, no equally reliable federal proposal containing the specific details mentioned could be verified. For the time being, therefore, the ongoing consultation on charging infrastructure is the primary source of political conflict between the federal government and the real estate industry.
It remains to be seen how far Bern actually intends to pursue this requirement after the consultation period ends on October 12, 2026. If the reasonableness clause remains narrow, the bill will gain enforcement power. If it is interpreted more broadly, it is likely to shift many conflicts back to case-by-case reviews and civil proceedings.