With the appointment of Roman Mayer as the new Director of the Federal Office for Spatial Development, the Federal Council has chosen an experienced leader with legal expertise, strategic planning skills and extensive administrative experience. The move signals a clear strengthening of integrated

By amending the Ordinance on the Rent and Lease of Residential and Commercial Premises, the Federal Council is creating more transparency for new tenancies. From October 2025, it will be mandatory to state the reference interest rate and inflation rate on the initial rent form. This step will have

Conspark GmbH has published a fact sheet on the life cycle assessment of construction products. It compares the different rules in the EU and Switzerland. As they also produce different results, the company, which specialises in the circular economy, advocates

Despite global uncertainties, the economy in Central Switzerland remains confident. According to the "Financial Monitor Central Switzerland 2025", almost two thirds of companies rate their situation as good. However, a shortage of skilled labour and protectionist tendencies in international trade

The processing time for planning applications in the canton of Zurich is to be reduced from four to three months. To this end, the cantonal government is planning to amend the law and rely on digital processes to make the authorisation procedure more

Switzerland is one of the leading countries of origin and destination for direct investment. This strengthens the competitiveness of the economy and brings technological innovations and capital into the country. At the same time, direct investments are increasingly the focus of political

The newly negotiated Bilateral Agreements III were at the centre of a controversial discussion at the University of Zurich. Politicians, economists and academics discussed the impact of the agreement and Switzerland's future position in

The National Council has passed an amendment to the law by a clear majority that is intended to give property owners more room for manoeuvre in the fight against squatters. The new regulation enables homeowners to remove squatters more quickly and independently. A move that triggered controversial

The National Council has taken an important decision on financial support for asbestos victims. An amendment to the Accident Insurance Act is intended to secure the future of the Compensation Fund for Asbestos Victims Foundation. A powerful and forward-looking look at political developments in the

The mortgage reference interest rate, which is decisive for setting rents in Switzerland, has been lowered to 1.5 per cent. This change has a direct impact on tenancies and offers tenants the opportunity to demand a rent reduction. A powerful and forward-looking look at developments in the property

Innovation and creativity are decisive factors for economic growth and prosperity in Switzerland. With the Cantonal Innovation and Creativity Index (KIKI), the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts has developed an instrument that enables a well-founded comparison of the cantons for the

The Federal Council has adopted the "Digital Switzerland 2025" strategy, thereby realigning the guidelines for the digital transformation. A powerful and forward-looking look at the priorities for sustainable and responsible

Asking rents barely moved month-on-month at the start of the year. Year-on-year, however, rents in most cantons rose significantly once again. This is shown by the latest Homegate rent

Obrist interior AG can look back on 130 years of history this year. With the celebrations, the specialist for high-quality interiors in shop fitting and interior design wants to honour its employees in particular. Obrist interior is currently in the final of the Prix SVC

Swissbau 2026 brings a breath of fresh air to the construction and property industry. From 20 to 23 January 2026, Messe Basel will become the central meeting place for the industry and will provide clear impetus for the future with new specialist areas, interactive formats and an expanded concept.

Prices for condominiums and single-family homes fell in January compared to the previous month. At the same time, however, asking rents rose. This is shown by the current Swiss Real Estate Offer Index of the SMG Swiss Marketplace

The gradual reduction in key interest rates has led to a revival in the property market. This is the result of surveys by CSL Immobilien. Rents and prices for flats remain on the rise. In the office market, demand is primarily for ESG-compliant space and flexible utilisation

On 1 February 2025, the revised ordinance of the Federal Office for Housing (BWO) will come into force, setting new cost limits and loan amounts for rental and owner-occupied properties. This takes into account the increased land and construction costs and improves the funding opportunities for

The Zurich property market remains on course for growth, but while owners are benefiting, the situation for tenants continues to worsen. Residential property prices rose by 3.3% in 2024, while the shortage of rental flats intensified. Particularly noteworthy rents were increased not only for new

Older people in Switzerland often live in central, spacious and affordable flats, but there is often a lack of accessibility and age-appropriate furnishings. The "Housing in old age" study carried out by Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts on behalf of the Federal Office for Housing

Griesser is returning disused JAX actuators from the control system of its façade solutions for solar shading to the economic cycle. The actuators repaired by Griesser come with a one-year guarantee. All services also apply to these

The annual siren test will be carried out throughout Switzerland on 5 February 2025. Around 5000 sirens will be tested to ensure they are working properly. At the same time, an Alertswiss information message will be sent out to test the warning system. The Federal Office for Civil Protection

The Swiss Data Ecosystem Contact Point has started operations. It helps authorities, companies and organisations to create secure and interoperable data spaces. The aim is to utilise the potential of data efficiently and promote exchange across sector

Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) are working on systems for utilising energy from underground. In addition to minimising earthquakes caused by artificial cracks, closed systems for water and CO2 are also being

The Council of States wants to facilitate the construction of wind turbines with a height of up to 30 metres. These should also be able to be built outside of building zones. In doing so, it is following a state initiative from Appenzell

The year 2025 will bring an exciting mix of opportunities and challenges for the Swiss construction industry. The focus will be on topics such as sustainability, digitalisation and urbanisation, while a shortage of skilled workers and rising raw material prices will call for innovative solutions.

The third consecutive wave of bankruptcies is shaking the Swiss economy. While more than 8,000 companies are likely to file for insolvency again in 2024, young companies and traditional firms are particularly affected. Geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainties and rising commodity prices are

After eight years of intensive deliberation, Parliament has abolished the taxation of notional "owner-occupied rents". The system change simplifies the tax system, promotes financial stability and facilitates access to home ownership for young

After falling in October, asking rents rose again in November to the level seen in September. This is shown by the latest Homegate rental index. Year-on-year, rents were 3.1 per cent higher across

There is still considerable potential for sustainable wood utilisation in Switzerland. This is the conclusion of a joint analysis by researchers from various