Every year, there is a shortfall of thousands of flats in Switzerland, even though Bern is looking into ways to speed up the process. The root of the problem lies deeper. It is not the pace alone that is holding back housing construction, but an ever-more-complex web of regulations that the cantons

The German federal government is pushing ahead with plans for its own housing association. However, a new IMK study dated 31 August 2026 warns of significant legal and financial risks and argues that a credit-based housing stimulus scheme would be quicker, cheaper and more widely

Courdimanche is set to become a tourist magnet with three new theme parks costing 6 billion euros. However, the much-heralded Dragon Ball flagship attraction, of all things, has not yet secured full funding in legal terms, as, according to recent reports, approval from the Japanese rights holders

The streets are flooded, the tarmac is sizzling, and the sewerage system is at breaking point. What sounds like a state of emergency is becoming the norm if nothing is done. The water research institute Eawag and the Limeco wastewater association are jointly setting up a real-world laboratory

A 6.66 per cent interest rate on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages and a continuing shortage of supply are once again putting the brakes on the US housing market. Sales are falling, affordability is deteriorating further, and even new housing legislation is unlikely to provide any relief before

The canton of Neuchâtel is allocating a framework grant of 28 million Swiss francs for the period 2027 to 2031 to maintain its building stock. Whilst this unanimous decision eases the pressure on maintenance, it does not yet close the gap to the recommended level of value

Peach Property Group has reported a significant operational boost for the first half of 2026. Falling vacancy rates, higher like-for-like rents and the largely completed sale of around 2,000 units are stabilising both cash flow and the capital

China is radically overhauling its housing model. In future, developers will only receive deposits and mortgage funds from pre-sales once construction has been formally completed. For heavily indebted developers, this is yet another blow; for buyers, it is a long-overdue

Sydney is leading the way in Australia’s housing downturn. Falling prices, a slump in demand and the reform of the ‘negative gearing’ tax scheme are all putting pressure on the existing property market, project costing and developer financing. The boom is thus losing stability in precisely

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

Cities are struggling with congested roads, noisy delivery vehicles and a transport system that is reaching its limits. In the Limmat Valley, four partners have decided they can’t wait any longer. They are transforming the urban area into a test bed.

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

According to Entwicklung Schweiz, housing construction in Switzerland has reached a historically low level. Meanwhile, the population—and thus the demand for housing—continues to grow. In its position paper titled “Ways Out of the Housing Crisis,” the industry association calls for fewer

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

The federal government allocates up to 70 million Swiss francs annually for energy efficiency measures—but in 2025, only a little over a third of that amount was utilized. The reason is rarely a lack of interest. Rather, it is because most property owners and managers do not address their

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

Even today, many property management companies still struggle with inefficient—and in some cases even manual—processes: Either different tools such as ERP systems, email, Excel, and listing platforms are not integrated with one another, leading to disconnects and

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