Tenancy law reforms –
A bourgeois camp that is too greedy on tenancy law
The people refused to tighten up sub-rentals and relax the need for their own property. We will see if the bourgeois majority in parliament will learn its lesson.
Comment Posted today at 5:03 p.m.
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Big slap for the bourgeois camp. The two reforms to tenancy law, which he imposed against the will of the left and the Federal Council in parliament, failed in front of the people. Surprising, given that the UDC, the PLR, the Center and the PVL received more than 60% of the votes in the elections. Less surprising when we look in detail at the two projects.
In form, the proposals made sense. What could be more normal for an owner to know who is staying in their apartment? Or to be able to recover it if necessary? Supporters saw these reforms as simple technical adjustments, making it possible to clarify the rules and avoid abuse.
Basically, they would have tilted the balance in favor of the owners. Subletting would have been much harder to set up. Written consent would have had to be obtained and the owners could have refused much more easily. At the same time, the latter could have more easily recovered their housing by invoking their own need.
The Swiss, more than 60% of whom are renters, were not fooled. They gave voice. We understand them. Rents weigh more and more heavily on their finances. And finding an affordable apartment has become increasingly difficult, especially in cities. It is also not insignificant that the no vote was voted in all the major cities of the country, and even the smaller ones.
The bourgeois camp may have gained ground in the last elections, but the population is not ready to sign it a blank check with each vote. He should remember this and avoid having his eyes bigger than his stomach in the future. Because it is always the people who have the last word. And Asloca is in the starting blocks to protect its interests. She has already planned to launch the referendum against the two new right-wing projects, aimed at weakening the possibilities of contesting her rent.
Delphine Gasche has been a parliamentary correspondent in Bern since May 2023. Specializing in politics, she primarily covers federal news. Previously, she worked for the national news agency (Keystone-ATS) in the international, national and political sections. More info
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