Airbnb Criticizes Zurich Short-Term Rental Ban as Ineffective Against Housing Shortage
Airbnb counts 5,300 short-term rentals and business apartments in Zurich at the end of 2025, nearly double the 2017 total, according to figures reported by tagesanzeiger.ch. That concentration of temporary lodgings stands at the center of a new municipal restriction that took effect on September 1, designed to curb housing shortages by limiting short-term rentals.
Airbnb Challenges the Zurich Short-Term Rental Restriction
Airbnb is publicly challenging the new regulations in Zurich, asserting that the city’s restrictions are ineffective against broader housing shortages. While various rental providers previously launched legal challenges against the measures, Airbnb Switzerland has refrained from public comment until addressing the issue with the media outlet Blick, as reported by tagesanzeiger.ch. The platform rejects the argument that business apartments drive housing scarcity, stating that its listings do not significantly impact the availability or affordability of local housing.
The regulatory framework changes how short-term properties operate within the municipality. Properties rented on a short-term basis are now officially classified as commercial use rather than residential use. Owners converting standard apartments into business apartments must submit a formal building application, even when no physical structural changes take place on the property. Tighter rules apply directly to residential zones.
Assessing the Impact on Business Apartments
The exact scope of the restriction remains undetermined. Tagesanzeiger.ch reports that editorial estimates suggest at least half of the city’s 5,300 documented short-term rentals and business apartments face direct impact from the partial ban. Airbnb indicates that determining concrete consequences remains premature.
The platform emphasizes that the vast majority of its hosts in Zurich operate as homesharers. These individuals occasionally rent out their primary residences, a practice the company argues removes no permanent living space from the local housing market.
Zurich Creates Specialized Team to Enforce Rental Ban
Zurich is scaling up municipal enforcement to target non-compliant listings. City authorities established a specialized team consisting of five full-time positions scheduled to begin active enforcement of the partial ban at the start of 2027. The city council has approved a three-year pilot period for this enforcement unit, budgeting 650’000 Swiss francs annually to support operations.
Public reporting of potential violations began immediately following the policy rollout. During September alone, the city administration received 338 notifications regarding suspected infractions of the short-term rental restrictions.
Gut 5300 Airbnbs and business apartments zählte die Stadt Zürich Ende 2025, compared to approximately twice as many listings recorded in 2017.