Electric heat pumps have a lower carbon footprint than gas and oil heating systems. They are more energy efficient, and, when gas, coal and oil electricity generation are eventually phased out of the grid, they will be close to emission free. However, the number of heat pumps being installed in Switzerland is falling, and the number of new gas and oil heating systems is on the rise, according to a report by RTS. Photo by Heiko Ruth on Pexels.comSo far in 2024, Swiss homeowners have...
Read More »Swiss to vote on tenancy laws this weekend
Most people in Switzerland rent. This means the nation has strict tenancy rules, some of which are viewed as too strict by the current government. Both parliament and the Council of States have come up with two changes aimed at limiting the actions of tenants, which are considered abusive. Photo by Peter Lengacher on Pexels.comThese two votes are the result of objections to government plans rather than popular initiatives. After a plan is agreed by the government, if the public can...
Read More »Swiss residential property prices continue to climb
Data published this week by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) shows that residential housing has risen in price by 18% since 2019. In the most recent quarter (Q3 2024) it rose 0.7%. Photo by maxxup on Pexels.comWith prices rising by 19%, stand alone houses have risen by more than apartments (+17.4%) over the same period. With the exception of Q1 2020, Q1 2021, Q1 2022, Q1 2023 and Q1 2024, the price of individual homes has risen every quarter since Q4 2019. The greatest price...
Read More »Swiss government wants to invest more in bomb shelters
In 1962, Switzerland introduced a law that required underground bomb shelter space be constructed for all residents. Since then shelters have been built into houses and communal spaces have been built by municipalities for those living in a building without one. This week, the federal government announced plans to increase spending to renew and maintain the nation’s stock of bomb shelters, reported SRF. Bomb Shelter © Petrarichli | Dreamstime.comThe 1962 law, which was born from the...
Read More »Vacant homes become increasingly scarce in Switzerland
Data published this week by Switzerland’s Federal Statistical Office (FSO) show a decline in the number of vacant homes, both to buy and rent in Switzerland. Photo by Ksenia Chernaya on Pexels.comOn 1 June 2024, there were 51,974 empty homes in Switzerland, representing 1.08% of the country’s total housing stock. The number was down by 2,791 (-5.1%) compared to the number a year earlier. The drop in vacant homes follows three years of declines. In 2020, there were 78,832 vacant homes...
Read More »Swiss homeowners association rejects government plan to charge all home owners for earthquakes
Last week, the government in Bern broadly supported a plan to force all property owners to contribute to the cost of earthquake repair. This week, a Swiss homeowners association rejected the idea, reported SRF. Earthquake © Olga Demina | Dreamstime.comThe government plan is a response to the attitude of many home owners towards insurance. Only 15% of buildings are insured against earthquakes in Switzerland, a nation at risk, according to a government estimate. If some homeowners won’t...
Read More »All Swiss property owners could be hit with earthquake bill
Switzerland sometimes feels like the land of insurance. Numerous costs that are covered by taxes in many places come instead in the form of compulsory insurance in Switzerland. However, some risks remain uncovered by compulsory insurance. Earthquakes are one such risk. This week, a plan to force all property owners to contribute to the cost of earthquake repair received broad support in Bern. © GoranJakus | Dreamstime.comOver the years, Switzerland’s federal government has tried and...
Read More »Swiss Green Party launches vote to force home solar panel installation
This week, Switzerland’s Green Party started collecting signatures to launch a referendum. The vote would ask voters whether to accept a plan to force those renovating or constructing a new building to install solar panels, reported RTS. Photo by MARIANNE RIXHON on Pexels.comThe Green Party says there are enough roofs in Switzerland to ween the country off imported fossil fuel and to avoid resorting to nuclear power. Currently, only 10% of roofs are being used for solar power production....
Read More »Most Swiss empty-nesters not planning to downsize
Switzerland has one of the world’s tightest housing markets. Vacancy rates in cantons like Geneva (0.42%) and Zurich (0.53%) are extremely low. By comparison, the rate in New York City (1.4%) is around three times higher. The vacancy rate across Switzerland (1.15%) as a whole is lower than NYC. © Fizkes | Dreamstime.comWith such a shortage of housing, one hope is that more family homes will come on the market as the population ages and people downsize. However, a report by Zurich...
Read More »Migration between Swiss cantons – gainers and losers
The population is growing exceptionally fast in Switzerland. The nation draws many migrants from the EU and takes in proportionally high numbers of refugees. Over the last 20 years, the nation’s population has risen by 20%, far more than in France (10%), Austria (12%), Italy (3%) and Germany (2%) over the same period. In addition to these large inflows of people from outside, cantons with the highest growth rates have been exporting people to other cantons, according to figures published by...
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