Politics · Switzerland · 1 day ago
Swiss cities tighten rules on short-term rentals as housing pressure grows
Short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb are popular with visitors and can earn money for property owners.
In Swiss cities and tourist areas, concern is growing that homes rented to visitors may be unavailable to local residents and workers.
Luzern limits some homes created for short-term rental to 90 nights a year, and Zurich and Interlaken have also tightened their rules.
Tenant groups and hoteliers want stronger controls, while property owners warn that rules can restrict their freedom and cost taxpayers money to enforce.
Hoteliers in Valais say commercial short-term accommodation should meet the same requirements as hotels, including on fire safety and taxes.
The debate matters because tourist areas also need affordable homes for residents and hotel staff.
Switzerland’s National Council has backed a proposal to collect nationwide data on short-term rentals, but the Council of States still has to decide.
Several Swiss cities are tightening rules on short-term rentals as housing pressure grows.
Luzern has limited some homes to 90 rental nights per calendar year since 2025 and requires registration.
Zurich and Interlaken have also introduced stricter rules.
Tenant groups and hoteliers say short-term rentals can remove homes from the local housing market and want stronger controls.
Homeowners warn that stricter rules interfere with property rights and may bring high enforcement costs.
- Who
- Swiss cities, including Luzern, Zurich and Interlaken, are tightening rules; tenant groups, hoteliers and homeowners disagree over the measures.
- What
- Cities are restricting and registering some short-term rentals.
- When
- Luzern’s limit took effect in 2025; the article was published on 10 October 2026.
- Where
- Switzerland, including Luzern, Zurich, Interlaken and the Valais.
- Why
- Supporters say short-term rentals add pressure to housing availability; opponents say stricter rules unduly restrict property owners and can be costly to enforce.
Tenant groups and hoteliers
Homeowners
Housing availability
Tenant groups and hoteliers
Short-term rentals can remove homes from the local market and leave less housing for residents and hotel staff.
Homeowners
The rules are disproportionate when short-term rentals account for a small share of homes.
Regulation
Tenant groups and hoteliers
Stronger controls, including registration, are needed; hoteliers also want commercial short-term rentals to meet the same requirements as hotels.
Homeowners
The 90-day limit is arbitrary and restrictions interfere with property rights.
Eigentum bedeutet Verantwortung.
Als Liberaler bin ich grundsätzlich gegen Gesetze, gegen Vorschriften, gegen Einschränkungen.
Wegen eines solch geringen Anteils braucht es kein neues Korsett, das am Ende hohe Kontrollkosten für die Steuerzahler verursacht.
The article says the Luzern limit covers housing created for short-term rentals since 2010 that displaced or eliminated housing.
Luzern introduced a 90-night annual limit for the covered housing and a registration requirement.
Radio SRF 1 broadcast the discussion about short-term rentals and regulation.
SRF published the article.
- Luzern limit
- 90 nights per calendar year for covered homes
- Luzern short-term rental listings
- Around 330 Airbnb offers when the rule was introduced in 2025
- Luzern housing stock
- More than 48,000 homes
- Zurich enforcement
- Five posts approved for three years
- National data proposal
- Approved in the National Council; still awaiting a decision by the Council of States
Sources
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