The reference interest rate for mortgages in Switzerland will remain at 1.25 per cent as of 2 September 2026. For existing tenancies, this means that, for the time being, there will be neither a new entitlement to rent reductions nor a new basis for increases due to the reference interest

Zurich is tightening the rules on housing from 1 September 2026. Anyone who regularly lets out flats for short periods as Airbnb accommodation or business flats must declare this use. In some cases, a planning application is required for conversions, even where no building work is

A fully let residential block comprising 84 flats in Geneva-Champel is changing hands for 60 million Swiss francs. The deal highlights just how fiercely competitive prime residential locations remain and how property funds are continuing to expand their presence in Geneva in a market with an

The reference interest rate in Switzerland remains at 1.25 per cent, but this is doing little to stabilise the housing market. Despite the historically low rate, UBS expects rents to rise again in 2026 and 2027, whilst an increase to 1.5 per cent from the end of 2027 could make it easier, from a

The Raiffeisen Futura Immo Fund is set to launch its largest capital raising to date in September 2026. Around 100 million Swiss francs are to be used to finance new acquisitions and the sustainable refurbishment of the existing portfolio, following a recent rise in the debt-to-equity ratio to

Locarno is transitioning its municipal building stock to a digital database. This will enable more than 70 properties to be compared in terms of their condition, energy requirements and investment needs. As a result, the focus for refurbishments and budgets is shifting from individual decisions to

Mobiliar plans to build up to 1,000 affordable housing units throughout Switzerland in the coming years. The insurer is providing up to 200 million Swiss francs in equity capital for this purpose and is committed to the principle of rent based on

Between 2022 and 2025, the City of Zurich acquired a total of 47 properties, investing 1.3 billion francs in the process. Twenty-nine residential properties with 527 existing apartments directly support the goal of increasing the share of public-interest rental housing to one-third by

The planning application for the new campus in Horw is now on public display. The canton is thus taking its largest educational construction project into the next phase. The plans include new buildings, refurbishments and a conversion to be carried out whilst the campus remains open, with a

Lausanne is set to have a significantly larger property budget. The Municipal Council’s Finance Committee wants to increase the acquisition loan for the period 2026 to 2031 from 130 to 200 million Swiss francs. This move is part of a more stringent land and housing policy based on the right of

At SMG, the change of leadership is already being coordinated with the next change of leadership on the Board of Directors. Christoph Tonini is stepping down as CEO on 31 December 2026, but is set to take over as Chairman of the Board of Directors in April 2027. This means that the group’s

Zumikon is bringing the partial revision of the Building and Zoning Regulations into force on 1 January 2027. This means that new, harmonised measurement methods and amended regulations will apply to building applications. Ironically, the controversial rezoning in Huebrüti remains on hold for the

The Swiss residential property market appears less overheated in the second quarter of 2026. MoneyPark’s risk index has fallen from 3.7 to 3.5 points. However, it is still too early to breathe a sigh of relief, as unemployment, strict affordability rules and significant differences in interest

In the canton of Lucerne, the solar panel requirement for roof renovations is only due to come into force on 1 March 2025 and is already under fire again. The cantonal government is now standing its ground and does not intend to water down the requirement, despite criticism regarding costs, the

A large office property in Geneva and seven sales of smaller properties are strengthening Allreal’s portfolio. Operationally, the group posted growth in the first half of 2026, but the vacancy rate—at 3.6 percent—is significantly higher than in previous years and remains the most challenging

For the Markthof Schild Ost project in Nussbaumen near Baden, the start of construction—already scheduled for spring 2026—is being further delayed. Because the ongoing permitting process has made a second basement level necessary, the underground parking garage is being expanded from 48 to 70

The Granador site near Hitzkirch and Ermensee is changing hands, giving new momentum to a development project that had been stalled for years. According to the design plan approved in March 2026, the new owner aims to submit a building application for approximately 275 apartments as early as

In 2025, the federal government and the cantons committed a total of 636.4 million Swiss francs to energy-efficiency measures for buildings. This boost comes not only from the existing building program but also from the new stimulus program, which primarily supports larger heating system

Intershop’s 2026 half-year financial results are mixed. Lower rental income and significantly smaller revaluation gains are weighing on reported profits, while sales and acquisitions are reshaping the portfolio and dampening the annual outlook for net property

Biel is reorganizing its extensive real estate portfolio. In August 2026, the municipal council adopted a strategic framework to ensure that maintenance, investments, school facilities, and land policy are no longer based on scattered data and fragmented

511,000 square meters of unused commercial space in the two Basel cantons mark an abrupt reversal of the trend. While the housing market continues to dry up, vacancies in retail, commercial, and warehouse spaces in particular are rising sharply, intensifying the pressure on property owners and

Higher rental income, a successful sale in Lausanne, and progress on two development projects are giving Epic Suisse more leeway. The real estate group is raising its forecast for 2026, even though the reported vacancy rate has risen significantly due to new space coming

With the sale of BuildingMinds to the Zurich-based platform Lookthrough, the AI analysis of institutional real estate portfolios is becoming more integrated. The combined platform is expected to utilize data from more than 100,000 buildings in 64 countries; the transaction is scheduled to close in

SMG’s real estate platforms are setting the pace for the first half of 2026. The division saw revenue rise by 11.5 percent to 88.5 million Swiss francs and achieved an adjusted EBITDA margin of 62.9 percent. At the same time, the marketplace operator is reorganizing its executive

Hui Ka Yan’s life sentence brings one of the most spectacular chapters of China’s real estate boom to a close. For the market, however, the crisis is far from over, as millions of pre-sold apartments, massive debts, and new insolvency proceedings continue to weigh on the

The plans for the “Lebendige Limmat” will be available for public review through September 28, 2026. This major Zurich project aims to combine flood protection, biodiversity, and local recreation along a 3.2-kilometer stretch; however, at approximately 95 million Swiss francs, it will be

Dieter Egli is taking over as chair of the Zurich Metropolitan Conference, with Claudio Bernold joining him. The leadership change comes at a time when the organization—which coordinates spatial planning, transportation, and location issues across cantonal and municipal boundaries—has also

The Bern cantonal government wishes to revise the rules governing ownerless land and plots. Land that cannot be cultivated, such as rocks and glaciers, is to belong to the local authorities. In the case of ownerless sections of road, arable land or industrial sites, the local authorities are to be

A renovated roof is more than just a new covering. It is a decision about energy, property, and the future value of a real estate asset. In the canton of Lucerne, this very issue has become a political flashpoint. No sooner had the solar mandate gone into effect than a motion was introduced calling

The attack rarely begins in the server room. It arrives in the inbox as a credible email, comes in the form of a phone call from a purported executive, or is disguised as a modified payment order. Swiss SMEs frequently experience cyber incidents, yet they assess their own risk as surprisingly low.