Business · Economy · 2 days ago
Housing shortage delays tens of thousands of households in Switzerland
A shortage of affordable homes is delaying household formation in Switzerland, according to a study by property adviser Wüest Partner.
It estimates that 20,000 to 30,000 more households could exist if enough homes were available, and says the figure could be higher in a less strained market.
Young adults are among those most affected, often staying with parents or sharing a home for longer; some separated couples cannot afford a second home.
High housing costs are also shifting people away from expensive areas: Zurich canton now loses about 3,500 residents a year to other cantons, after gaining residents before the pandemic.
More homes are expected to be built, with about 45,000 added in 2026 and 50,000 in 2027, but newly available homes may also allow delayed households to form.
Swiss asking rents rose 1.9% year on year in the third quarter of 2026, even as more rental homes were listed; in Zurich city, they fell 1.7%.
Rents are forecast to rise another 0.9% in 2027, while rents in existing tenancies are expected to remain stable.
A shortage of affordable housing has delayed the formation of an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 households in Switzerland, according to a Wüest Partner study.
Young adults are especially affected, often staying with parents or sharing homes, while some separated couples cannot afford a second home.
High housing costs are also shifting demand away from major centres, with Zurich losing residents to other cantons.
Despite a rise in construction, Wüest Partner expects housing demand and rents to remain under pressure.
National asking rents were 1.9% higher year on year in the third quarter of 2026.
- Who
- Tens of thousands of people in Switzerland, especially young adults, have delayed forming their own households.
- What
- A housing shortage and high costs are delaying household formation and pushing some residents toward cheaper regions.
- When
- The study was published on October 29, 2026. It describes trends over recent years and forecasts for 2026 and 2027.
- Where
- Switzerland, with Zurich and nearby cantons highlighted.
- Why
- The sources attribute the trend to a lack of affordable housing and high housing costs.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The share of young adults living alone has declined, particularly in Zurich, Schwyz and Zug.
National asking rents were 1.9% higher than a year earlier, while asking rents in Zurich city fell by 1.7%.
Wüest Partner published its study estimating that 20,000 to 30,000 more households could exist if enough homes were available.
Wüest Partner expects national asking rents to rise by 0.9%.
- Delayed households
- 20,000 to 30,000 estimated
- Potential additional households in a less strained market
- 40,000 to 50,000
- Net housing additions forecast for 2026
- About 45,000 homes
- Net housing additions forecast for 2027
- About 50,000 homes
- Zurich's annual net population loss to other cantons
- About 3,500 people