New-lease rents and wages

Three answers

Proposals of the left, the centre and the right, summarised by Votara editors from the parties' own documents and from parliamentary business. They are not Votara's opinion.

Left: SP and Greens · Centre: Die Mitte and GLP · Right: SVP and FDP. This grouping is an editorial choice by Votara. Source for the parties' left–right placement: Selects 2023 election study (FORS, in German)

The order of the three cards changes every day. How we work

• Right

  The SVP wants to limit immigration; according to the party, this would take price pressure off the housing market and make housing, rented or owned, affordable again. The FDP proposed, in parliamentary initiative 17.515 (Philippe Nantermod), to allow challenges to the initial rent only where housing is short, as state intervention would be justified only then; the Council of States gave it no follow-up in 2020.

  Parties: SVP and FDP

  Written by Votara editors from SVP Switzerland, press release «Mit der Abschaffung des Eigenmietwerts wird der Mittelstand entlastet», 28 September 2025 (in German)

  Also stated in: Parliamentary initiative 17.515 by Philippe Nantermod (FDP), Curia Vista (in German and French)

• Left

  The SP wants to lower the admissible return: the margin allowed above the mortgage reference interest rate would fall from 2 to 0.5 percentage points. Rents would be reviewed automatically and periodically, and every lease would have to state the previous rent. According to their programme, the Greens call for transparency on initial rents, simpler checks and a limit on «excessive returns».

  Parties: SP and Greens

  Written by Votara editors from SP Switzerland, position paper «Wuchermieten stoppen, Immobilienwirtschaft in den Dienst der Menschen stellen!», 28 February 2026 (in German)

  Also stated in: Greens Switzerland, «Agenda 2023–2027» (in German)

• Centre

  The GLP asked, in motion 23.4237 (Beat Flach), that new leases state the rents of the previous two years, because the rent could otherwise rise «disproportionately» when tenants change; the National Council rejected it in 2024. Die Mitte asks, in motion 22.4448 (Stefan Engler), for a rule on the admissible net return in case the reference interest rate rises above 2 per cent; both chambers adopted it in 2023.

  Parties: GLP and Die Mitte

  Written by Votara editors from Motion 23.4237 by Beat Flach (GLP), Curia Vista (in German and French)

  Also stated in: Motion 22.4448 by Stefan Engler (Die Mitte), Curia Vista (in German and French)