Swiss Pension Funds Under Fire Over Housing Market Role

Zurich protests highlight growing tension as pension funds control 44% of rental properties, sparking debate over affordable housing crisis.

Swiss pension funds own approximately 44% of rental apartments nationwide
Thousands of protesters demonstrated in Zurich against pension funds' role in housing market
Pension funds are legally mandated to generate returns on investments

44%

Percentage of rental apartments owned by pension funds

"That doesn't mean they should be charging sky-high rents"
— Unnamed protester

"There is no more socially valuable use of real estate returns than to fund retirements"
— Lukas Müller Brunner, Swiss Pension Fund Association

Growing Tensions in Swiss Housing Market

Swiss pension funds own approximately 44% of rental apartments nationwide
Thousands of protesters demonstrated in Zurich against pension funds' role in housing market
Pension funds are legally mandated to generate returns on investments

44%

Percentage of rental apartments owned by pension funds

"That doesn't mean they should be charging sky-high rents"
— Unnamed protester

"There is no more socially valuable use of real estate returns than to fund retirements"
— Lukas Müller Brunner, Swiss Pension Fund Association