SVIT: 2.6 percent of rental apartments are vacant
The vacancy rate of rental apartments in Switzerland is 2.6 percent, Wüest Partner has determined on behalf of SVIT Switzerland.
As reported by SVIT Switzerland, the vacancy rate in the rental housing market is significantly higher than the vacancy rate published by the Federal Statistical Office (BfS) in September. According to the BfS, 72,294 apartments were vacant across Switzerland as of June 1, 2018, representing 1.62 percent of the country's total housing stock. In the previous year, the vacancy rate was still 1.45 percent.
For the rental housing market, however, the vacancy rate is significantly higher, at 2.60 percent, Wüest Partner has calculated on behalf of SVIT. The deviation from the BfS value is up to five percentage points, depending on the canton, the trade association reports. Of the cantons with mandatory forms, Vaud, Fribourg and Neuchâtel with vacancy rates of 1.50, 2.90 and 3.20 percent, respectively, no longer meet the legal requirements for mandatory forms. For the form obligation, a Housing shortage provided, and according to common practice, a vacancy rate of 1.5 percent or less is considered a housing shortage. (ah)
