Will Switzerland’s vacancy rate fall below 1% in 2026?
Switzerland’s vacancy rate stood at exactly 1.00% in 2025, its lowest level in years. Could it drop below the one-percent threshold in 2026?
Author: Nikita von Niederhäuser, UrbanHomeUpdated: 13 July 2026 · Reading time: approx. 8 minutes
What is the vacancy rate?
The vacancy rate is the proportion of empty homes in the entire housing stock.
It covers homes that are vacant on the reference date and offered for permanent rental or sale.
In Switzerland, the survey date is always 1 June.
This indicator helps show how tight or relaxed a housing market is.
A low rate does not mean every region is equally constrained, but it indicates strong demand relative to supply overall.
- Share of vacant homes
- Relative to the total housing stock
- Reference date: 1 June
- Properties offered for permanent rent or sale
- No guarantee that every region is affected equally
Latest data: 1.00% vacancy rate in 2025
The officially published Swiss vacancy rate for 2025 was 1.00%.
Vacancy was therefore already exactly at the one-percent threshold.
The number of vacant homes fell again, underlining the pressure on the rental market.
According to the original article, the official 2026 figure would become available after the 1 June survey and subsequent publication by the Federal Statistical Office.
Statements about 2026 in this original edition are therefore an assessment of market trends, not an officially confirmed rate.
Why the vacancy rate could fall below 1% in 2026
Several factors suggest that the housing market could remain tight.
The crucial question is how quickly supply and demand evolve.
Strong demand
Population growth, new households and migration to economically strong regions keep demand for rental homes high.
Too little new construction
Housing projects take time. Land scarcity, permits, construction costs and objections constrain supply in many places.
Regional shortages
Vacancy rates in cities, agglomerations and well-connected municipalities are often well below the national average.
Even a small decline would be enough
A rate below 1% would be especially likely if demand continued to grow faster than available supply.
There are signs of increased building activity, but new homes usually ease pressure only with a delay.
Moreover, new homes are not necessarily built where demand is strongest.
What points towards or against a fall below 1%?
| Factor | In favour of below 1% | Against below 1% |
|---|---|---|
| Starting level | The rate was already 1.00% in 2025, so a small fall would be enough. | Even a modest supply increase could stabilise it at 1.00%. |
| Demand | Strong demand in cities and agglomerations supports a further fall. | Slower immigration or economic activity could ease pressure. |
| New construction | New homes take time and may be outside the tightest areas. | More completed homes could raise or stabilise vacancies. |
| Regions | Many economically strong regions are already well below 1%. | Some rural or tourist markets have higher vacancy rates. |
| Rental market | Rising asking rents signal continued excess demand. | Slower rent growth could indicate some easing. |
steps to assess the vacancy rate correctly
Distinguish the national rate from regional conditions.
Check the reference date: the survey concerns 1 June.
Look beyond the rate to the number and geographic distribution of vacant homes.
Do not mix rental flats, owner-occupied flats and houses without distinction.
Monitor asking rents and listing durations as additional market signals.
Consider the time lag between building starts and completed homes.
Apartment seekers should improve their search radius, documents and response speed.
Landlords and investors should assess local demand, not just the Swiss average.
What does a low vacancy rate mean in practice?
These questions help tenants, landlords and investors interpret a potential rate below 1%.
Questions on Switzerland’s 2026 vacancy rate 1. What is the vacancy rate in the relevant municipality? 2. How many suitable rental homes are actually advertised? 3. How quickly do listings disappear? 4. Are local asking rents still rising? 5. Which housing projects will be completed in 2026 or 2027? 6. Is demand boosted by jobs, transport, schools or population growth? 7. How much does the local situation differ from the Swiss average? 8. What does the shortage mean for applications, budget and search radius?
Examples from everyday property searches
Looking for a home in a city
Someone is looking for a three-room flat in a large Swiss city.
Although the national vacancy rate is around 1%, the local choice is considerably narrower.
Complete documents, search alerts and fast contact become crucial.
Landlord in an agglomeration
A landlord owns a flat in a well-connected suburban municipality.
The low vacancy rate indicates strong demand, but setting an appropriate rent remains important.
Excessively high rents can prolong the marketing period even during a shortage.
How to respond to a low vacancy rate
Check the regional vacancy rate
Monitor asking rents
Assess local demand
Compare the Swiss average
Choose a realistic search radius
Compare neighbouring municipalities
Check public transport connections
Consider regional differences
Prepare documents
Set up a search alert
Be ready to contact advertisers quickly
Keep documents up to date
Include ancillary costs
Account for rent trends
Compare the total cost of alternative locations
Assess long-term affordability
Review local building projects
Check completion dates
Monitor new listings
Be realistic about when new housing helps
Assess local demand, not just averages
Set a market-appropriate rent
Disclose ancillary costs transparently
Monitor marketing time
Related UrbanHome guides
Frequently asked questions about the 2026 vacancy rate
The article’s most important questions answered.
It is the share of vacant homes offered on the market relative to the entire housing stock. Switzerland measures it annually on 1 June.
The original article could not confirm this before the official figures were published. The 2025 rate was already 1.00%, making a small further decline possible but not certain.
It signals a very tight market: fewer choices for tenants, stronger competition and often increasing asking rents.
High demand, limited construction, scarce land, lengthy approvals and population growth all play a role.
No. Cities, agglomerations, tourist areas and strong economic centres can have much lower vacancies than rural areas.
Expect more competition and faster application processes. Complete documents and search alerts are increasingly important.
No, but it increases pressure on asking rents. Existing rents also depend on tenancy law, the reference interest rate, costs and the contract.
Cities concentrate jobs, infrastructure and demand while building land is limited.
Usually not. Planning, approval, building and marketing take time, and homes may not be built where they are most needed.
Low vacancies can make letting easier, but realistic rent, property condition, transparent charges and good marketing still matter.
Affordable family homes in desirable locations and smaller urban flats with good transport connections are often difficult to find.
Use search alerts, prepare documents, respond quickly, consider nearby municipalities and calculate a realistic budget including ancillary costs.
The one-percent threshold shows how tight the market is
The rate could have fallen below 1% in 2026: it was already exactly 1.00% in 2025 and the Swiss rental market was under pressure.
At the time of the original article, only the official figures could confirm the result.
Apartment seekers should respond quickly, prepare their documents and remain flexible about location.
For landlords and investors, local market conditions are more useful than national averages.
Compare current rental properties in Switzerland
Compare rental homes by region, budget, rooms and move-in date. If options are limited, consider well-connected neighbouring municipalities.