In March 2026, the Bundesamt für Wohnungswesen (BWO) confirmed that the taux hypothécaire de référence, the indicator that in Switzerland regulates the possibility of modifying rents, remains at 1.25%. The news has a double reading. On the one hand, landlords cannot demand rent increases based on this index. On the other hand, and although it may seem like good news for tenants, they do not have the right to demand a reduction either. The mechanism works like this: the taux de référence changes only when the weighted average of mortgages in force exceeds certain thresholds. At this moment that average is 1.32%, and for the index to go down it would need to fall below 1.13%. That is to say, there is margin, but not enough. The forecasts for the remainder of 2026 do not anticipate any changes. Anyone renting in Switzerland with a contract based on this indicator can be reasonably calm about short-term variations, although that does not mean that rents will not rise: owners have other legal arguments to adjust prices, such as the evolution of the cost of living or improvements to the property. From a practical point of view, if in recent years your landlord raised the rent justifying it in a higher tax de référence, and that index has decreased since then, you technically have the right to request a reduction. The procedure is formal: you must send a certified letter with the reference data. If your landlord raised the rent in the middle of the escalation of the tax and you have not asked for a correction, it is advisable to check the numbers because there may be legal margin to recover something. ---
The reference tax remains at 1.25%: no rent reductions or increases for Swiss tenants
Community guide based on recent and verified experiences.