Alliance hands in over 150,000 signatures against rental reforms

Voters are likely to have the last word on the softening of the protection against eviction in the case of subletting and owner-occupancy. An alliance centred around the Tenants' Association submitted around 76,000 signatures against each of the two proposals on Tuesday. Some 50,000 valid signatures are required for each referendum to be held. It is very likely that the double referendum will be put to the vote, probably towards the end of this year. The referendums are backed by several left-wing parties, the Swiss Trade Union Federation and organisations such as the Association of Swiss Student Unions (VSS). Representatives of the alliance spoke of a "frontal attack by the property lobby on tenancy law" at the time of the submission. + Golden cages and rising rates: headaches for the Swiss rental market Tenants are under severe pressure, rents are rising more and more and parliament has pushed through deteriorations in tenancy law, said Tenants’ Association Vice President and...