Stricter rules planned for business apartments in Switzerland
Following a landmark ruling by the Federal Supreme Court, so-called business apartments in Switzerland are facing an uncertain future. In Zurich, the rules for these temporary apartments have already been significantly tightened to protect scarce housing for the local population. Now, politicians in other Swiss cities are calling for similar measures.
The main problem lies in the use of residential space. Critics argue that business apartments often serve as a substitute for hotels and thus remove apartments from the regular market. In many cities, there is a great shortage of affordable housing, which is why renting to business travelers or tourists is increasingly meeting with political resistance.
The city of Zurich has taken a pioneering role with its restrictive policy. The Federal Supreme Court has ruled that the conversion of apartments into temporary accommodation in residential zones is not permitted without further ado. This ruling now serves as a basis for housing politicians in other regions who also want to take action against the spread of these apartments.
Operators of business apartments, on the other hand, view the development critically. They emphasize that these accommodations are important for professionals and companies that only work in Switzerland for a limited time. The industry now fears that new regulations could lead to the loss of an important offering for the economy.
It remains to be seen how individual cities will use the new legal scope. The debate clearly shows how great the pressure is on the Swiss housing market. In the coming months, more cities are expected to decide on new laws to secure housing for residents in the long term.