Abusive prisons, the initiative succeeded with over 108,000 signatures (cross-border guide)

Context

Abusive prisons, the initiative succeeded with over 108,000 signatures

The popular initiative "Yes to protection against illegal rentals" was presented by the promoters of the Swiss Tenants' Association (ASI). The initiative calls for curbing the rise in rents and making rentals more accessible. According to developers, tenants pay an average of CHF 360 per month too much.

Key facts

• What: protection against abusive rents
• When: 23 June 2026
• Where: Federal Chancellery
• Who: Swiss Tenants' Association (ASI)
• Amount: over 108,000 signatures

The initiative aims to introduce a maximum ceiling for rentals, which cannot exceed 70% of the market value of a property. In addition, it is planned to introduce a system of stricter controls for abusive rentals.

According to data provided by ASI, Swiss tenants pay an average of CHF 360 per month too much for their rentals. In some cantons, such as the Canton of Zurich, tenants pay as much as 500 francs per month more than the market value.

The initiative has already been successful, with over 108,000 signatures collected. The next move will be to present the initiative to the Federal Chancellery for evaluation.

Analysis

• Most affected cantons: Canton Zurich, Canton Geneva and Canton Bern are the cantons that have seen the biggest increase in rents in recent years.
• Market values: according to ASI data, the

Operational details

Abusive prisons, the initiative has succeeded with over 108,000 signatures The initiative calls for curbing the increase in rents and making leases more accessible. The promoters of the initiative claim that tenants pay an average of CHF 360 per month too much. This means that tenants transfer CHF 10 billion unduly to landlords every year. The initiative calls for clear rent control to curb abusive rents and ensure fair rents for all. According to the developers, the rental market is in crisis and tenants are forced to pay exorbitant prices in order to have a roof over their heads. In Switzerland, the cost of living is already high and rents are just one of the many expenses tenants have to bear. For example, in Zurich, the average price of a two-bedroom apartment is over CHF 4,000 per month. In Bern, the average price is over CHF 3,500 per month. The initiative calls for setting up a rent control to ensure that prices are fair and not abusive. The developers argue that rent control could be carried out through a rent control agency that checks rent prices and ensures that they are fair. In addition, the initiative calls for a maximum rent increase limit of 1% per annum. Switzerland has already come under criticism for its rental policy. In 2020, the Swiss Parliament has In Geneva, the average price of a two-bedroom apartment is over CHF 5,000 per month. If rent control is enforced, rental prices may be reduced and tenants may have access to an overhead roof at a more reasonable price. In Lausanne, rent control has been applied since 2015 and has led to a 15% reduction in rental prices.

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Key points

Abusive prisons, the initiative succeeded with over 108,000 signatures

If the initiative is approved, tenants will be able to rely on more effective rent control. This could help curb the rise in rents and make rentals more accessible. In addition, tenants may be able to rely on fair and reasonably priced rentals.

What to do:

• Check rents to make sure you are not a victim of rent abuse.
• Ask the promoters of the initiative for help if you have problems with your rental.
• Support the initiative to help curb the rise in rents and make rentals more accessible.

The rent control initiative has been launched in Switzerland for several years and has already collected over 108,000 signatures. This is a significant achievement, as it has been achieved through the collection of signatures in several cantons, including Bern, Zurich and Geneva. The initiative calls for the creation of a rent register, which could help prevent abusive rentals and ensure that tenants are treated fairly.

Tenants could benefit from more effective rent control through this initiative. For example, in Bern, 20% of tenants experienced a rent increase of more than 10% in 2022, according to data from the Bern City Council. This increase in rents could be curbed thanks to the creation of a register of

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Source: rsi.ch