
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

Frauenfeld’s development plan sparks opposition
In Frauenfeld, the dispute over the new municipal development plan is entering a critical phase. Business associations and a town centre association are rallying against the provisions on traffic, parking and procedures. They fear more restrictions, reduced accessibility and greater interference

Scorching summer puts the Minergie pledge to the test
Over 60,000 certified buildings are synonymous with efficiency and comfort. Yet it is precisely during heatwaves that Minergie homes are coming under increasing pressure. The association is responding with stricter requirements for summer heat protection and is placing greater emphasis on cooling,

Lucerne’s Right of First Refusal Goes to Court
In Lucerne, the new municipal right of first refusal for real estate is the subject of a legal dispute. Following the voters’ approval on June 14, 2026, an appeal has been filed with the cantonal court to determine whether the measure is permissible without a cantonal legal basis and whether the

Winterthur Opposes the 2040 Land-Use Plan
A planning tool that sets out more than 100 policy objectives. A referendum committee that speaks of a “political straitjacket.” On November 29, 2026, Winterthur will decide at the polls how much leeway the city’s development should retain over the next 15 years. The referendum against the

Six Demands to Address the Housing Crisis
The Swiss rental housing market is at a standstill. More and more people are unable to find suitable housing, while others remain in apartments that no longer suit their life circumstances. The “Swiss Alliance for Housing” is therefore calling for a clear change of course—away from subsidies

Geneva authorities are insisting on clear rules
The USPI Geneva has accompanied its 2025 annual report with a clear call to action for policymakers and the administration. The association highlights 320,000 properties under management, 650 million Swiss francs in construction investment, and increasing pressure on refurbishment, new-build

Six billion francs, and the market goes wild
Zurich wants to create affordable housing, but in doing so is driving up prices. How is that possible? It’s quite simple: when the government uses taxpayer money to bid alongside private developers and squeezes out private cooperatives. The NZZ has uncovered this contradiction. It’s

Rent Control Initiative Increases Pressure on Rental Law
With more than 140,000 signatures submitted, the rent initiative is now on the political agenda. For property owners, managers, and developers, this brings into focus not only the issue of rent levels, but also questions of oversight, return on investment, and additional regulation of existing

SREF Makes Its Debut in Bern – SVIT Strengthens Institutional Portfolio and Asset Management
The Swiss Real Estate Forum (SREF) took place for the first time in Bern on June 11 and 12, 2026. By moving to BERNEXPO, the industry event brought itself closer to federal politics and set an example for dialogue between the real estate industry, politics, academia, and


New association calls for greater fairness in the rental market
The fairmieten association was founded in Winterthur. Its aim is to introduce clearer standards and greater fairness to the Swiss rental market through a code of conduct. The Raiffeisen Pension Fund Cooperative and the Rivora Collective Foundation are already on

Living in Ticino requires foresight
The housing problem in Ticino is not just about rents or the number of vacant apartments. It is about quality, accessibility, social cohesion, spatial development and the demographic future. Monique Bosco-von Allmen calls for the topic of housing to be considered in a broader and more political

New economic alliance strengthens the voice of the Bernese Oberland
Wirtschaft Thun Oberland and HIV Interlaken-Oberhasli are merging. From 2027, they will operate as the Bernese Oberland Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The organisation represents the interests of trade, industry, commerce, services and tourism. It is chaired by Carlos

A new spatial concept is intended to guide growth in a more targeted manner
From Urbanistica’s perspective, the “Switzerland 2050 Spatial Concept” contains important elements. These include Switzerland’s polycentric structure, the strengthening of interconnected centers, and the concept of “spaces of action.” However, in its statement, the Association for Good

Pestalozzi invites applications for the 2026 Stiftepriis
The Pestalozzi Group is launching the application phase for the Stiftepriis 2026 in June. The award recognises apprenticeship graduates in the fields of building envelope and technology as well as metal construction and processing with an average grade of 5.1 or higher. The application deadline is

Federal Council wants to accelerate residential construction
In view of the housing shortage, the Federal Council is planning measures to shorten the planning and building permit procedures for residential construction. For example, it is considering asserting an overriding national interest in certain cases and restricting certain objections.


The construction site also wants flexibility
Part-time work alone won’t solve the problem. At the event “We’re Counting on You!” held on March 26, 2026, at CAMPUS SURSEE, it became clear that the construction and infrastructure sector is facing a cultural shift. Anyone who wants to succeed in the competition for skilled workers must

Network Switzerland elects new members to the board
Christina Doll and Andreas Zettel have been newly elected to the board of Netzwerk Standort Schweiz. The business development officer for the town of Schlieren and the deputy director of Lucerne Economic Development are taking over from Jasmina Ritz and Albert

The city is exploring new approaches to reducing waste and resource consumption
The Government Council of Basel-Stadt is considering launching a pilot project with Pretty Good to facilitate the drop-off of used items at recycling points. In doing so, it is following the example set by Bern and Zug. It intends to involve the local second-hand and repair sector in the


New Head of Market and Policy at the Solar Association
Wieland Hintz is the new Head of Market and Policy and Deputy Managing Director at Swissolar. His predecessor, David Stickelberger, will continue to support the association as Senior Policy Advisor. Anna Plancherel will become the first Director for French-speaking Switzerland at the solar energy

Digital tool assesses sustainability of events
The Swiss Association for Sustainable Events is launching the Eventkit platform. This provides event organisers and authorities with a standardised tool for planning and evaluating sustainable events. It also integrates the KITmanif platform of the city of Lausanne and the canton of


Housing promotion at federal level
The National Council's Economic Affairs Committee wants to continue the federal government's tried-and-tested housing subsidy programme. The Fonds de Roulement and contingent liabilities are to be extended and slightly strengthened, but the new cost-rent model remains



