Swiss landlords and tenants have just been through another bruising round of their perpetual conflict, with tenants scoring a double victory at the ballot box. Why are the two groups always at each other’s throats in Switzerland and does this constant antagonism do either side any good? There’s no denying that Switzerland is a land of renters compared to many other countries in Europe. Nearly 60% of households rent a roof over their heads rather than taking out a mortgage loan to buy their own property. Finding the right balance between the rights of homeowners and tenants is therefore a particularly spicy social issue in Switzerland. + Why wealthy Switzerland is a land of tenants In one corner, the Tenants’ Association (Asloca) continuously complains about greedy landlords. In the other corner, the Homeowners’ Association (HEV) laments that its members have their hands tied by restrictive rules. Bad feeling has existed for decades. Neither side ever appears totally satisfied with ...
