On 25 September 2026 the Federal Council decided to recommend that the rent initiative be rejected. It intends to put an indirect counterproposal against it. This is meant to contain comprehensible rules for setting rents: a statistical comparison rent for initial rents, an indexation mechanism for existing tenancies, and transparent standards for identifying abusive rents. The consultation is planned for the first half of 2027, with the message to Parliament due by the end of 2027.
In the Federal Council's assessment, the initiative would require elaborate rent control and could slow investment in housing. The counterproposal, by contrast, is intended to sharpen the existing rules on abusive rents without regulating the market comprehensively.
For landlords and investors, this means the framework for rents is likely to become clearer over the coming years but has not yet been decided. Tenants can expect more transparency when reviewing their rents. Until Parliament and, where applicable, voters have decided, the current provisions continue to apply.
Predictable tenancy rules make it easier to invest in new and renewed housing. This assessment is not legal advice.
