Double no is a slap in the face for the real estate lobby, says tenants’ association
Published: Sunday, Nov 24th 2024, 19:10
العودة إلى البث المباشر
The tenants' association sees the double "no" to the rental proposals as a "resounding slap in the face for the real estate lobby". For the homeowners' association, on the other hand, the result of the vote does not solve any problems. For its part, the FDP fears rising rents.
The tenants' association (MV) said in a press release that it had succeeded in fending off a two-pronged frontal attack on tenancy law and tenant protection. The result is a clear rejection of two proposals from the real estate lobby, which are about to be discussed in parliament and would "open the door to excessive, abusive rents". The double "no" is also good news for the many SMEs that share space and rental costs with other business tenants.
The current rules have proven their worth for tenants and fair landlords. The message to parliament is clear: "It is high time that it freed itself from its role as the recipient of orders from the real estate lobby." The pending proposals for rent increases should be stopped at the earliest opportunity.
Constructive solutions for subletting
During the campaign, the supporters had assured that they wanted to put a stop to problematic, recurring and permanent subletting via booking platforms such as Airbnb. The way is now open for real and constructive solutions from all stakeholders to combat this abuse, which the MA has been denouncing for years.
For the umbrella organization of employees, Travailsuisse, the result clearly shows that the population does not accept attacks on tenancy law. The tightening of tenancy law that was rejected at the ballot box would have further weakened tenant protection in an already very tense housing situation. The planned revisions to the law would also have led to a further increase in rental prices and thus a further weakening of employees' purchasing power. The "double no" is a clear signal to politicians to stop further attacks on tenancy law.
The SP also expressed its satisfaction in a press release. The rejection of the rental law proposals was a piece of the puzzle in the real estate lobby's plan to get rid of tenants more quickly and then increase rents more easily.
The majority have recognized that there are no problems with abusive subleases. However, there are problems with abusive rents. The SP is therefore calling for an immediate rent moratorium, an obligation to regularly review yields for larger landlords and the promotion of non-profit housing construction. The Greens on X were also pleased with the decision "against deterioration in tenancy law".
Problems remain for homeowners
According to the Homeowners' Association (HEV), tenants, landlords and subtenants would have benefited equally from an improvement in legal certainty, it said in a statement after the vote defeat. The problems with abuses would remain unresolved.
The amendment to the law on subletting would have increased transparency and thus contributed to the protection of subtenants, HEV President and SVP National Councillor (ZH) Gregor Rutz was quoted as saying. The total opposition of the tenants' association was not to the advantage of its members.
The Center Party, the SVP, the FDP and the Swiss Trade Association (SGV) also regretted the rejection of the two rental bills. According to Mitte, a stricter framework would have been introduced for subletting in order to stabilize the rental market and prevent abuses. With regard to owner-occupation, this would have helped to simplify the takeover of properties by owners without shortening the applicable notice periods.
For the SVP, the proposals would have ensured fair rules between tenants and landlords and made it easier to use properties for personal use. For the party, the bill on subletting would also have been a useful means of combating excesses and abuses in the subletting sector.
The two "no" votes were a blow to the future of the country, wrote the FDP. Rents would continue to rise.
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