Federal Supreme Court rules: Zurich may restrict short-term rentals
The Swiss Federal Supreme Court has handed down an important ruling for the housing market in Zurich. In the future, the city may more strictly restrict the short-term rental of so-called business apartments in purely residential zones. With this, the court confirmed the stance of city authorities, who aim to protect housing for the population.
In recent years, an increasing number of apartments in Zurich were no longer being rented out on a long-term basis, but were instead offered as furnished business apartments for short stays. This development led to less housing being available for the permanent population in popular residential neighborhoods. The City of Zurich wanted to stop this trend in order to keep rental prices stable and secure housing for residents.
Operators of the business apartments had filed a lawsuit against the city's strict rules. They argued that their offerings were important for business travelers. However, the Federal Supreme Court has now ruled in favor of the city. It emphasized that the use of apartments for short-term, commercial purposes in residential areas may be restricted if it serves to protect the residential population.
This ruling has a signaling effect for other Swiss cities grappling with similar problems. It provides authorities with greater legal certainty to take action against the misuse of housing. In the future, cities in Switzerland will therefore be better able to control how apartments in residential zones are used in order to relieve pressure on the local housing market.