Housing remains a top priority in people’s minds when it comes to planning for the future

Property remains a popular choice amongst the Swiss population within the second pillar. At the same time, the 2026 Pension Monitor reveals a worrying gap in financial security in old age. Many see little scope for saving, particularly when it comes to housing and healthcare.

The representative survey was carried out online between 28 April and 14 June 2026 amongst 1,200 people aged 18 and over, including 299 pensioners. The focus is therefore not solely on the views of those currently in employment, but on a broader perspective of expectations regarding the AHV, pension funds and their investment policies.

The findings are explosive for the property sector. Whilst many view their retirement provision in surprisingly positive terms overall, the picture changes when it comes to their future standard of living. 67 per cent of the population believe that the AHV and pension funds alone are unlikely to secure their accustomed standard of living in retirement. Scepticism is particularly high amongst those with lower purchasing power.

Housing is seen as an expense that is difficult to cut back on
Respondents see little scope for savings, particularly when it comes to expenditure on housing and healthcare. Savings would be made first on luxury goods, charitable donations or further education. This sends a clear signal to homeowners, investors and pension funds. Housing costs remain a major budget item in old age, even if other areas are cut back.

According to the study, 27 per cent of respondents would even consider moving abroad to safeguard their standard of living in retirement. Among 18- to 39-year-olds, this figure stands at 36 per cent; for those with lower purchasing power, it is 38 per cent; and for people with limited financial security, it is 41 per cent. Among the over-65s, it drops to 11 per cent.

Property beats shares and bonds
When it comes to the preferred investment strategy for pension funds, property ranks ahead of shares andbonds. 67 per cent would like these property investments to be made mainly in Switzerland, whilst a further 28 per cent prefer a mix of domestic and foreign investments. At the same time, the view of the sector is not entirely uncritical. 46 per cent cite the risk of a property bubble as a key concern.

The priorities are also shifting when it comes to investment objectives. For 96 per cent, security is the most important criterion. Whilst 81 per cent want high returns, an equal 81 per cent consider fair working conditions at the target companies to be crucial. In the property sector, 69 per cent attach greater importance to social objectives, such as affordable and eco-friendly housing, than to returns.

Pressure for transparency regarding pension funds is mounting
Four out of five respondents want to know how their pension capital is being invested. This increases the pressure on pension funds and their investment partners to explain their property strategies in a transparent manner. At the same time, the Monitor shows that the public continues to clearly support the need for reform. 68 per cent still consider a reform of the pension system to be necessary.

In the market itself, pension funds’ exposure to property remains robust. Swisscanto’s 2026 Swiss Pension Fund Study continues to identify property as a stable portfolio anchor, accounting for around a quarter of asset allocation. The public’s desire for reform thus coincides with an asset class that is already firmly established in institutional portfolios, but which is now coming under increasing pressure in terms of transparency, social responsibility and impact.