Zurich housing vacancy rate creeps up to just 0,52% in 2026

Anyone looking for somewhere to live in Switzerland knows the struggle: apartments are few and far between, and there is high competition. The same goes in canton Zurich, where the latest figures show that the number of available apartments remains low despite a slight rise.

Zurich vacancy rate increases to 0,52 percent

As the most populous canton, Zurich is bearing the brunt of Switzerland's housing shortage, with residents often finding it difficult to secure an apartment or house. This trend continues in 2026, with the cantonal government reporting that the “vacancy rate remains low”. That’s despite a slight increase compared to the previous year, rising from 0,48 to 0,52 percent, with the number of properties available rising from around 3.800 to 4.200.

This is the second year running that the vacancy rate in canton Zurich sits below 1 percent, which is contributing to rising rent prices. Across the country, the vacancy rate was reported to be 1 percent in 2025. 

Vacancy rate is a figure used to describe “the proportion of vacant apartments to the total housing stock.” 

More housing construction needed

The highest proportion of available places to live can be found in Oberland (with a vacancy rate of 0,95 percent), followed by Pfannenstiel (0,90 percent). Vacancy rates in the cities of Zurich and Winterthur have also increased compared to previous years, sitting at 0,11 percent and 0,20 percent respectively, both below the 10-year average.

Most households in canton Zurich continue to favour renting an apartment, with over 75 percent of vacant apartments intended for the rental market. Furthermore, according to the press release, residents are not picky about apartment size, with all being “equally in demand.” 

Unfortunately, the "supply of housing cannot keep pace" with the demand. "This is despite the fact that the labour market climate has cooled considerably in the last two years and population growth has remained below 1 percent.” 

The main solution for the real estate problem in Zurich continues to be building new apartments, which will “probably be needed for an extended period”, states the Zurich cantonal government.