Executive Summary

The Federal Council has published the second annual survey on the Action Plan for Housing Shortage. 88 percent of the 35 recommended measures are being implemented or have been completed. The survey was conducted from January to February 2026 and achieved a participation rate of 80 percent. For the first time, 20 cantons were also directly involved. Despite progress in implementation, the situation on the housing market remains tense: 76 percent of respondents see a worsening of the situation.

Persons

Topics

  • Housing shortage in Switzerland
  • Action Plan 2024
  • Housing market monitoring
  • Tenant law and tenant protection

Clarus Lead

Two years after the adoption of the action plan, a paradox emerges: while the implementation rate is high, concrete market improvements are lacking. The ongoing tension not only jeopardizes quality of life but also labor market function and social cohesion – a pressure that forces decision-makers toward faster or alternative solutions. Particularly critical: stakeholders remain entrenched in two opposing strategies (construction promotion vs. tenant protection) without any apparent consensus.

Detailed Summary

The Action Plan for Housing Shortage was adopted by the Federal Council in early 2024 and comprises 35 measures to ensure sustainable provision of quality, affordable, and needs-appropriate housing. The second annual survey documents substantial implementation progress: 42 percent of respondents expressed satisfaction with implementation in their area of responsibility, 50 percent rated the action plan as relevant. The high participation rate of 80 percent indicates broad engagement.

Nevertheless, structural blockades are evident. 76 percent of survey participants report a worsening of market conditions, and several stakeholders report a lack of concrete improvements. The divergence of solution approaches remains central: while some stakeholders call for adjustments to framework conditions to stimulate construction activity, others focus on rent increases, lease terminations, and the need to strengthen tenant law and expand tenant protection. This polarization between supply-side and demand-side strategies impedes coherent problem-solving.

Key Findings

  • 88 percent of measures are being implemented or have been completed; high administrative activity is documented
  • Situation remains tense: 76 percent see worsening; concrete market improvements are lacking
  • Strategic disagreement: stakeholders split between construction promotion (supply side) vs. tenant protection (demand side); no consensus apparent

Critical Questions

  1. Evidence/Data Quality: Which indicators (rental prices, vacancy rates, new construction volume) specifically show that the situation has worsened despite an 88-percent implementation rate? Have survey results been cross-checked against objective market data?

  2. Conflicts of Interest: Which stakeholders benefit from the status quo situation (e.g., property owners from rising rents), and how might this have skewed survey responses regarding measure relevance?

  3. Causality: Can it be ruled out that external factors (immigration, inflation, interest rate developments) have exacerbated market tension independently of the action plan?

  4. Implementation Quality: What does "being implemented" mean? Are there quality or effectiveness criteria, or does simply initiating a measure count?

  5. Problem-Solving Capacity: How does the Federal Council intend to reconcile the two diverging strategies (construction promotion vs. tenant protection) if the survey shows no convergence?

  6. Time Horizon: Why are no market effects visible after two years? Are 35 measures too many and too fragmented to produce measurable impact?

Source Index

Primary Source: Second Survey on Implementation of the Action Plan for Housing Shortage – Federal Office of Housing (BWO), 11.06.2026

Supplementary Resources:

Verification Status: ✓ 11.06.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model.
Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: 11.06.2026