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 rental of so-called business apartments in purely residential zones. With this, the highest court supports the city's efforts to protect scarce living space for the local population.
In recent years, an increasing number of apartments in Zurich have no longer been rented out long-term, but instead offered as furnished business apartments for short periods. This practice led to fewer apartments being available for people who want to live in the city permanently. The City of Zurich sought to stop this trend and issued corresponding regulations.
The owners of the affected properties had filed lawsuits against these restrictions. They argued that they should be allowed to use their apartments freely. However, the Federal Supreme Court has now dismissed these lawsuits. The judges ruled that the protection of housing in residential zones is an important public interest that outweighs the economic interests of landlords.
This ruling could also have implications for other Swiss cities struggling with similar problems. Cities such as Geneva and Basel are monitoring the situation closely, as the pressure on the housing market is also very high there. The decision from Lausanne now creates a clear legal basis for the municipalities.
For the City of Zurich, the ruling is a success for its housing policy. The authorities can now take more targeted action against the misuse of apartments. It remains to be seen how quickly the city will implement the new rules in practice and whether the availability of apartments will improve noticeably as a result.