Federal Supreme Court: Zurich may restrict short-term rentals
The Swiss Federal Supreme Court has delivered an important ruling for the city of Zurich. In the future, the city may more strictly restrict the rental of so-called business apartments in residential areas. With this, the court supports the city's efforts to protect scarce housing for the local population.
In recent years, an increasing number of apartments in Zurich have been offered as short-term business apartments. These units are often no longer available for long-term rental contracts. Critics have argued that this puts additional pressure on the housing market and drives prices up.
With this new ruling, the city of Zurich now has greater legal certainty. It can stipulate that properties in certain residential zones must be used primarily for permanent housing. This is intended to prevent residential space from being converted into tourist or business accommodations.
The ruling could also have a signaling effect for other Swiss cities. Many urban centers in Switzerland are struggling with similar problems in the housing market. The Federal Supreme Court's decision now provides municipalities with a stronger instrument to actively manage the use of residential space.
The city of Zurich now plans to review the new possibilities promptly and implement corresponding regulations in the affected neighborhoods. For tenants in the city, this could lead to a long-term easing of the strained housing market.