Bern’s housing market is becoming increasingly tight

In the canton of Bern, the vacancy rate fell to 1.04 per cent in 2026, reaching its lowest level in 22 years. The shortage is particularly acute in Thun, where just 0.05 per cent of flats are now vacant, whilst new planning applications and major projects are only expected to ease the pressure in the medium term.

The nationwide decline has almost completely caught up with Bern. According to the Federal Statistical Office, the vacancy rate across Switzerland fell to 0.93 per cent as at 1 June 2026. In the canton of Bern, it stood at 1.04 per cent just slightly higher – marking the lowest level since 2004.

The situation is particularly acute in Thun. In the statistics for Swiss cities, the town recorded a vacancy rate of 0.05 per cent as at 1 June 2025, making it one of the tightest housing markets in the country. At the same time, market observers in the canton of Bern expect asking rents to continue rising in 2026.

Pressure is spreading to other regions
The shortage is no longer confined to the city centres. Following the publication of the 2026 vacancy figures, the Tenants’ Association speaks of rents continuing to rise and a lack of affordable flats. For Bern, this is relevant to the sector because the pressure to find accommodation is not only intensifying in the city of Bern and in Thun, but is also having a greater impact on the letting market, property development and political debates in smaller municipalities and rural areas.

Associations are calling for more new-builds
SVIT Switzerland views the falling vacancy rate as a warning sign and is calling on politicians and authorities to prioritise more housing construction rather than further market interventions. According to calculations by Wüest Partner commissioned by the association, the vacancy rate in the rental housing market across Switzerland most recently stood at 1.2 per cent. The sector points to projects being delayed and becoming more expensive due to regulations and protracted procedures.

Relief will only come gradually
Although major housing developments are underway in the city of Bern, they will not immediately alleviate the shortage. A total of 185 rental flats are planned for the Meinen site; the first phase will be ready for occupation from July 2026, with the second phase scheduled for spring 2027. In Wankdorfcity 3, around 490 to 500 rental flats are to be built by 2029, with occupancy possible from 2027. For the market, this means that new supply is coming onto the market, but the low vacancy rates in sought-after sub-markets are unlikely to disappear in the short term.