Switzerland faces worst housing shortage since 2014

The Swiss housing market remains tense, with prospective tenants facing the worst shortage since 2014, the Federal Office for Housing (FOH) said in its annual report on Monday. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Based on trends over the last few years, the FOH also doubts that supply and demand will return to balance this year. "The improvement in the situation for people looking for accommodation depends essentially on the growth in the number of households. In 2026, this is expected to be in a similar range to the previous year," explained the housing office experts. This phenomenon is complicating the search for affordable housing, particularly for low- and middle-income households, in both urban and mountain areas. The critical areas are Zurich, Geneva, Lucerne, Zug, St Moritz, Chur and Interlaken-Zweisimmen. Long-established households, on the other hand, have benefited from the stabilising effect of the fall in financing costs on rents for current ...