https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed If you own a flat (or want to buy one) in a building in Switzerland that is managed by a homeowners’ association, there are certain duties and responsibilities you will have. Here’s what you should know. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251022/what-are-my-communal-obligations-as-an-apartment-owner-in-switzerland Wed, 22 Oct 2025 14:55:54 +0200 what-are-my-communal-obligations-as-an-apartment-owner-in-switzerland Foreign nationals living abroad will be required to obtain a special permit before purchasing a home in Switzerland, the Swiss Federal Council has announced. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260416/swiss-government-to-tighten-rules-on-sale-of-properties-to-foreign-buyers Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:36:23 +0200 swiss-government-to-tighten-rules-on-sale-of-properties-to-foreign-buyers After the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28th, Swiss petrol prices have risen sharply. But the conflict is impacting mortgage rates in Switzerland as well. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260420/how-war-in-middle-east-is-causing-swiss-mortgage-rates-to-soar Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:31:11 +0200 how-war-in-middle-east-is-causing-swiss-mortgage-rates-to-soar Zurich real estate is among Switzerland’s most expensive, and in some lakeside areas prices are driven upwards by international residents. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260414/how-wealthy-foreigners-are-driving-up-prices-in-zurich-neighbourhoods Tue, 14 Apr 2026 14:15:42 +0200 how-wealthy-foreigners-are-driving-up-prices-in-zurich-neighbourhoods Whether mountain homes or other types of residences, some areas of Switzerland have more ‘holiday’ dwellings than others. Where is the highest number found? https://www.thelocal.ch/20240503/where-in-switzerland-are-most-second-homes-located Fri, 03 May 2024 14:41:25 +0200 where-in-switzerland-are-most-second-homes-located Some parts of Switzerland have housing cooperatives that offer more affordable rents. Here's what you need to know, and how you can apply to rent one of these apartments. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230203/what-are-swiss-housing-cooperatives-and-can-you-access-them Fri, 03 Feb 2023 15:11:53 +0100 what-are-swiss-housing-cooperatives-and-can-you-access-them Real-estate prices remain high in Switzerland, but bying property in some regions will cost less than in others. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260128/where-in-switzerland-are-prices-of-single-family-homes-lowest-right-now Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:00:04 +0100 where-in-switzerland-are-prices-of-single-family-homes-lowest-right-now The Swiss National Bank’s zero-percent interest rate, in place since June 2025, means mortgages should be very cheap. And yet, 10-year fixed-rate mortgage rates have increased. How can this be explained? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260107/why-are-fixed-rate-mortgages-rising-in-switzerland-despite-a-zero-interest-rate Wed, 07 Jan 2026 12:54:27 +0100 why-are-fixed-rate-mortgages-rising-in-switzerland-despite-a-zero-interest-rate If you are hoping to purchase a house or an appartment in 2026, you may want to know what developments to expect on Switzerland's property market in the coming months. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251229/what-will-happen-to-swiss-property-prices-in-2026 Mon, 29 Dec 2025 18:31:38 +0100 what-will-happen-to-swiss-property-prices-in-2026 Looking for a flat? You need to have your documents in order. Here’s what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220407/checklist-what-documents-do-i-need-for-an-apartment-in-switzerland Thu, 07 Apr 2022 18:37:48 +0200 checklist-what-documents-do-i-need-for-an-apartment-in-switzerland In September, voters in Switzerland approved the abolition of the imputed rental value. This means that this particular tax deduction for property owners will no longer be available, which experts believe could spark a ‘renovation boom.’ https://www.thelocal.ch/20251029/why-will-swiss-buildings-undergo-a-renovation-boom Wed, 29 Oct 2025 14:20:16 +0100 why-will-swiss-buildings-undergo-a-renovation-boom Moving from one house or apartment in Switzerland to another is not as simple as just packing up your furniture. Instead, the process involves quite a few administrative tasks. https://www.thelocal.ch/20241112/checklist-what-you-need-to-do-if-you-move-house-in-switzerland Tue, 12 Nov 2024 16:23:20 +0100 checklist-what-you-need-to-do-if-you-move-house-in-switzerland Property price increases in Switzerland's two largest cities - Zurich and Geneva - have far outpaced income growth, according to a recent UBS study. This is making housing "unaffordable for residents," experts warn. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250923/property-prices-in-geneva-and-zurich-become-unaffordable-for-residents Tue, 23 Sep 2025 17:11:44 +0200 property-prices-in-geneva-and-zurich-become-unaffordable-for-residents If your move is taking place during the week, you may wonder if your Swiss employer will give you time off from work. Here’s what you should know. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250915/can-i-get-time-off-work-for-moving-house-in-switzerland Mon, 15 Sep 2025 17:26:04 +0200 can-i-get-time-off-work-for-moving-house-in-switzerland If you've been dreaming of owning a house or an apartment in Switzerland, autumn 2025 may be a good opportunity to do so - at least for some people. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250915/is-autumn-2025-a-good-time-to-buy-a-home-in-switzerland Mon, 15 Sep 2025 14:10:24 +0200 is-autumn-2025-a-good-time-to-buy-a-home-in-switzerland The populist Swiss People’s Party (SVP) has launched a referendum bid, seeking a vote on the obligation to prioritise Swiss people and longtime local residents for Zurich apartments. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250814/right-wing-party-wants-to-give-swiss-citizens-priority-access-to-housing Thu, 14 Aug 2025 17:22:48 +0200 right-wing-party-wants-to-give-swiss-citizens-priority-access-to-housing It's no surprise that Switzerland is an expensive place to live - but latest housing data shows quite wide variations when it comes to where rents have increased the most over the summer. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250814/heres-where-rents-increased-the-most-in-switzerland-this-summer Thu, 14 Aug 2025 13:26:43 +0200 heres-where-rents-increased-the-most-in-switzerland-this-summer In the warmer months, spending some quality time in your garden can be wonderful for your mental and physical well-being. But what are people actually allowed to do in their garden in Switzerland? https://www.thelocal.ch/20230508/what-you-can-and-cant-do-as-a-homeowner-in-your-garden-in-switzerland Mon, 08 May 2023 19:17:12 +0200 what-you-can-and-cant-do-as-a-homeowner-in-your-garden-in-switzerland Real estate — whether houses or apartments — is very expensive in Switzerland, and only those with established high income and assets in the bank can afford it. But where does this leave younger people? https://www.thelocal.ch/20250611/where-in-switzerland-can-young-people-afford-to-buy-property Wed, 11 Jun 2025 16:41:38 +0200 where-in-switzerland-can-young-people-afford-to-buy-property It's notoriously expensive to buy a home in Switzerland and that's unlikely to change any time soon as the latest data shows that residential property prices went up again in May. We look at where the cost of buying a home is rising the most. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250609/where-are-property-prices-rising-the-most-in-switzerland Mon, 09 Jun 2025 20:32:07 +0200 where-are-property-prices-rising-the-most-in-switzerland