Zurich buys more houses but evictions spark outrage

The evictions at the so-called ‘Sugus Houses’ in Zurich have caused widespread outrage across Switzerland, boosting support for left-wing housing policies. However, building affordable, non-profit housing remains a significant challenge. The owner of the three ‘Sugus Houses’, who evicted around 250 tenants, has received little public sympathy. Even the Property Owners’ Association and a Radical-Liberal councillor of Zurich’s cantonal government have criticised the move. For the left, especially the Social Democrats, the message is clear: change is needed. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The evictions are seen as a prime example of the decline in affordable housing and how landlords use mass evictions to maximise profits. Florian Utz, co-chair of the Social Democratic Party parliamentary group in Zurich’s government, insists on urgent action: “This cannot continue. We need new laws at both the federal and cantonal levels to protect tenants from such mass ...