Business · Economy · 12 hrs ago
Swiss housing expert warns shortages and rising prices will persist
Swiss real estate expert Donato Scognamiglio says housing is scarce across much of the country.
Switzerland’s vacancy rate is below 0.9%, a level the government defines as a housing shortage.
About 41,000 homes are built each year, while immigration is equivalent to a city of 60,000 people.
Strong demand has helped push home prices up 38% in the past decade, and Scognamiglio says the increases are unlikely to stop soon.
Rising costs are pushing people from cities to suburbs and rural areas, while some people over 55 move abroad to find more affordable housing.
Many households spend more than a third of their income on housing, above the usual guideline, raising concerns about financial hardship and social tensions.
Scognamiglio says cities and towns should promote mixed-income communities rather than leave some areas affordable only to wealthy residents.
Swiss housing expert Donato Scognamiglio says the country faces a widespread shortage of homes and sees no end to rising prices.
Switzerland’s vacancy rate is below 0.9 percent, a level that officially meets the definition of a housing shortage.
The country builds about 41,000 homes a year, while immigration is equivalent to a city of 60,000 people each year, Scognamiglio says.
Prices for owner-occupied homes rose 38 percent over the past decade, while advertised rents rose by an average of 22 percent over 30 years.
Scognamiglio warns that high housing costs are pushing people from cities and putting pressure on households.
- Who
- Donato Scognamiglio, a property expert and politician for the EVP.
- What
- He warned that Switzerland faces a housing shortage and that rising prices are likely to continue.
- When
- He spoke at a media event reported on November 10, 2026.
- Where
- Switzerland.
- Why
- Scognamiglio says too few homes are being built to meet demand, including demand linked to immigration and the country’s appeal.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Advertised rents rose by an average of 22 percent across Switzerland and 30 percent in Zurich.
Prices for owner-occupied homes rose by 38 percent.
Prices rose by 3.3 percent for single-family homes and 4.5 percent for apartment buildings.
Scognamiglio warned at a media event that the housing shortage and price rises would persist.
- Vacancy rate
- Below 0.9 percent
- Annual net housing construction
- 41,000 homes
- Annual immigration
- Equivalent to a city of 60,000 people
- Owner-occupied home prices
- Up 38 percent over 10 years
- Advertised rents
- Up 22 percent on average over 30 years
- Zurich industrial and commercial land
- Study identifies room for about 16,000 homes
What people are saying
In Switzerland there is a shortage of homes almost everywhere.
It keeps going, although economically speaking prices are already too high.
I don’t want a Dubai in Switzerland, where people come here for two years and then leave.