Summary

The City of Bern rents out less than half of its 1,500 affordable apartments at actually reduced rents – a decline explained by renovations and lost eligibility. The municipal council relies on natural turnover rather than active relocation. Meanwhile, a revised municipal ordinance from April onwards significantly expands decision-making authority for the city and parliament. In other news: the Canton of Bern is financing the renovation of the Historical Museum with 40 million francs, and cantonal police warn of increased telephone fraud.

People

Topics

  • Social housing
  • Municipal financial authority
  • Museum renovation
  • Telephone fraud
  • Ice hockey

Clarus Lead

The City of Bern is only achieving half its social policy goals for affordable housing: Of 1,500 apartments, currently fewer than 750 are rented at reduced rates. The reason does not lie in lack of availability, but in a deliberate waiting strategy – the city only relocates residents through natural turnover to avoid mass evictions. At the same time, a new municipal ordinance from April 1st significantly increases decision-making autonomy for the municipal council and parliament: the municipal council may henceforth decide on amounts up to 500,000 francs (previously 300,000), parliament on 12 million (previously 7 million).

Detailed Summary

Affordable housing market stagnates due to renovations

Marc Lerchier of Real Estate City of Bern explained that the city deliberately does not actively relocate tenants in affordable apartments. Approximately 30 apartments are currently undergoing renovation, and over 30 rental parties have lost their eligibility for subsidies. The system waits for terminations by current tenants – not out of lack of interest, but for social policy reasons. Premature termination of over 750 parties would constitute mass eviction and would contradict the city's welfare policy. The municipal council sees the model as an appropriate instrument for fulfilling its social policy principles.

More financial authority for city and parliament

From April 1, 2026 onwards, expanded powers apply. The municipal council may henceforth independently decide on amounts up to 500,000 francs, the city parliament on 12 million francs. Matters exceeding 12 million remain subject to voter approval.

Additional investments and security warnings

The Canton of Bern requested a credit of 40 million francs for the renovation of the Historical Museum (total construction costs: 120 million; the federal government and city each pay 40 million). Cantonal police warn of increased telephone fraud since early February: in two cases, 188,000 francs were stolen, with perpetrators posing as police or bank representatives.

Key Statements

  • Fewer than 50% of Bern's municipal social housing apartments are rented at reduced rates; renovations and lost eligibility are the reasons
  • Natural turnover rather than mass relocation is the city's strategic model
  • New municipal ordinance nearly doubles decision-making authority for city and parliament
  • Canton approves 40 million francs for the first complete renovation of the Historical Museum since 1894
  • Telephone fraud in Canton Bern is increasing; victims lose hundreds of thousands of francs

Additional News

  • Freiburg Cantonal Bank: Best business results with profit of 154 million francs; canton receives distribution of 75.5 million
  • Ice hockey: Swiss national team at Winter Olympics with NHL players and Andrea Gläuser as co-captain in action

Critical Questions

  1. Evidence: How does the City of Bern specifically define the criteria for "eligibility" for subsidies, and are these regularly reviewed? What data supports the claim that over 30 rental parties have lost their eligibility?

  2. Conflicts of Interest: Does the City of Bern benefit financially from renting apartments at market rates instead of reduced rates? Who bears the political risk if social housing is rented at market prices?

  3. Causality: Is the stagnation (less than 50% occupancy) really only due to renovations and lost eligibility, or are there other factors such as lack of demand or administrative delays?

  4. Feasibility: How long does a typical renovation cycle take, and how many apartments are currently in the process? Is natural turnover sufficient to improve ratios in the long term?

  5. Counter-hypothesis: Would an active relocation program with transition assistance for affected tenants be socially justifiable and economically more efficient than a waiting approach?

  6. Risks of expanded authority: What control mechanisms ensure that the municipal council does not exercise its new powers (up to 500,000 CHF) without sufficient parliamentary oversight?

Sources

Primary Source: Regionaljournal Bern, Freiburg-Wallis – SRF Audio

Verification Status: ✓ 12.02.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: 12.02.2026