SWI swissinfo.ch: One in four Swiss tenants wants to move, but can’t

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One in four Swiss tenants wants to move, but can’t

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This content was published on April 26, 2018 2:12 PM Apr 26, 2018 - 14:12
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Dream home: a loft in Zurich for over CHF4,000 a month
(Keystone)

More than a quarter of tenants in Switzerland are unhappy with their accommodation, but are unable to move – especially for financial reasons.

A survey published by online price comparison portal comparis.chexternal link on Thursday has found that 26% of Swiss tenants consider their housing situation to be unsatisfactory. Of the 4,000 tenants surveyed, 67% said that they could not afford to move to a better place. Other reasons given for being unable to change addresses were: family (14%), job (13%), pets (10%) and education (8%).

+ In Swiss cities, 90% of people are tenants

The survey found that 37% of tenants living in French-speaking Switzerland were keen to move but could not. In German- and Italian-speaking Switzerland, it was 23%. Money was the main reason cited by French speakers (80%); this was less so for German- (60%) and Italian-speakers (63%).

Regardless of the potential hurdles, the Swiss are quite mobile. Over the past five years, 55% of tenants have moved house at least once. Within the past year alone, 22% have moved, and 26% are planning to do so within the next 12 months.

Conducted in April 2018, the online survey polled 4,175 tenants aged 18-74.

According to the most recent figures, about 60% of Swiss households are rentals. The average monthly rent across the country is just over CHF1,300 ($1,395).
rental sign in front of apartment building
Land of lessees
Swiss continue to rent rather than buy houses

Some 59% of Swiss households were rentals in 2015, according to the most recent figures. The average monthly rent came in at just over CHF1,300.
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"Lynx commented on the content at 27 April 2018 10:19".
Lynx Lynx 27-Apr-2018 10:19
I'd say it's a lot more than 1 in 4. If I wanted to find something similar to what I have now, but closer to work & my social life - view of the mountains, garden, quiet street, quiet neighbours, cheap parking - then I'd have to pay at least 500chf a month more than I am paying now. So, I'll stay where I am. There are not enough flats for single people. You can pay the same rent for a 2 room as for a 4 room. Plus, the 3-month notice period, not allowed to move in December rule is annoying. I can move on 1st Mar, 1st June, 1st Sept. That's it, unless I want to pay double rent for a few months, which I cannot afford. So, I'll stay where I am.
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