On Thursday, the Federal Housing Office (FHO) outlined its plan to curb housing shortages. It includes a number of measures to boost public housing. The shortage is no longer confined to the cities, but is affecting the whole country. It is primarily penalising low-income earners and increasingly the middle class, said FHO director Martin Tschirren to the press. The vacancy rate has dropped from 1.72% to 1% between 2020 and 2025, and rents have risen by 23.7% between 2009 and 2023. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The government believes that building more public housing will help to keep prices affordable. In recent months, it has taken a number of steps in this direction. In particular, the governing Federal Council wants to increase the revolving fund, which is used to grant loans to non-profit building owners for the construction, renovation and purchase of property. The fund is to be increased by CHF150 million from 2030. "This measure will enable us ...
