Home Sweet Home? – New Secondary Home Act

On 11 March 2012 the Swiss population voted in favour of legislation imposing limits on the construction of new secondary homes by a thin majority. Pending the introduction of formal statutory legislation the construction of new secondary homes has been regulated by a government ordinance (Ordinance).

Last week, the Swiss parliament debated on the draft Secondary Home Act (Act) aimed at replacing the Ordinance. The Act is expected to come into force on 1 January 2016.

Restriction of construction of new secondary homes

The Act imposes restrictions on secondary homes at communal level, both in terms of numbers as in aggregate surface:

• any commune may only have a maximum of 20 % in secondary homes;