Some of the largest cities are an exception to this trend. Zurich offers the most spectacular example. Here, the insertion period drops to a record low of 12 days. This is the lowest value ever measured for a Swiss major city since the survey began in 2015. The rental housing markets also remain very tight in the cities of Chur (11 days), Winterthur (13 days), and Lucerne (15 days). On the other end of the spectrum, landlords in Neuchâtel advertise on average for 41 days, the longest ever since the survey began. The market is clearly divided into two groups: on the one hand, cities where demand due to in- migration and relocations significantly exceeds the insufficient supply, leading to very short insertion periods; and on the other hand, the rest of Switzerland, where the market was anyway relaxed, with sufficient supply available.
The dampened desire to move, which consequently leads to fewer listings for vacant apartments, is partly due to the recent development of offered rents. Currently, it is still more advantageous for tenants to remain in their apartments. This is a result of the dichotomy in the rental housing market caused by rental law.
Results of the OWI April 2025 - March 2026 at a
glance:
- The number of rental advertisements decreases by 4% from the previous year to 393,897 listings.
- The average insertion period extends to 24 days (+1 day).
- The city of Zurich reaches the shortest measured insertion period of 12 days.
- Housing shortage remains most pronounced in Chur (11 days insertion period).
- Demand decreases in the cities of Lugano, Geneva, and Neuchâtel.
- The city of Neuchâtel reaches the longest insertion period of 41 days (+8 days) since the study began
in 2015.
Study, data, and graphics at www.svit.ch/owi or upon request.
Press Contact:
Ivo Cathomen
SVIT Schweiz
+41 44 434 78 88, ic@svit.ch