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 controversial.
The federal government’s housing subsidy programme is about to be extended. A majority of the National Council’s Economic Affairs Committee supports the Federal Council’s plans to continue subsidising the Fonds de Roulement in favour of non-profit housing construction from 2030. As well as renewing the commitment credit for contingent liabilities in housing promotion for the years 2027 to 2033. Low-interest, repayable loans are used to support cooperatives and other non-profit organisations in the construction, renovation and acquisition of affordable housing.
The majority of the Commission sees this as a proven, targeted lever against the tight situation on many housing markets, both in cities and in tourist regions. However, more far-reaching demands for a more substantial increase in the Fonds de Roulement or an increase in the commitment credit failed due to tight federal finances. A minority of the committee does not even want to discuss the proposals and points to the high level of immigration as the main cause of the housing shortage. In their view, the housing issue should be solved via migration policy rather than additional subsidies.
The situation is much more complicated with the planned cost-rent model in the Housing Promotion Act. The Federal Council wants to introduce a simplified, legally clearly supported cost rent model for indirectly subsidised non-profit housing that consistently aligns rents with the actual financing and operating costs and strengthens state rent control. However, the Commission did not specify how this model should work in detail. In particular, which calculation methods, flat rates and room for manoeuvre should apply to the providers. As the Federal Council would like to regulate the structure at ordinance level, the Commission is calling for more clarity before making a delegation decision. Following consultations with industry associations, cantons and experts, it has suspended its deliberations until the cost-rental model has been largely finalised. A resumption is planned for the third quarter of 2026. Indirect subsidies via Fonds de Roulement and guarantees are likely to continue, while the course still needs to be set for a new cost-rent regime in non-profit housing construction.