Housing in Geneva: confirmed shortage, 0.31% vacancy for 2027

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Background

Every year, the Geneva State Council sets the categories of housing affected by the shortage. These decrees are used to implement the law on the demolition, transformation, and renovation of residential buildings and the cantonal rules on tenancy law. Geneva has been experiencing a housing shortage for several years.

The key points

On November 11, 2026, the Council of State decided that the shortage will affect all apartments from 1 to 7 rooms in 2027. The average vacancy rate is 0.31%.

Both decrees are published in the Official Gazette. According to the Conseil d’État, these figures confirm the state of scarcity in the canton.

Key figures

• 0,31 % Average vacancy rate
• 0,37 % 1 and 2 rooms
• 0,31 % 2½ and 3-room apartments
• 0,24 % : 4 rooms
• 0,23 % : 5 pieces
• 0,30 % 6 pieces; 0,80 % 7 pieces or more

What it means for businesses

• Owners and developers The rules provided for the shortage zones will apply in 2027 to all categories from 1 to 7 pieces.

Further reading

• Rents in Geneva: 1,400 residents leave the canton every year
• Housing in Neuchâtel: the Littoral faces a shortage, with a 0.95% vacancy rate

Sources

• State of Geneva – Weekly communiqué of the Council of State of November 11, 2026 (official source)