Home prices keep climbing, Zurich reins in holiday flats, and the clocks go back next weekend.

The week

Home prices keep rising

Raiffeisen's transaction price index shows single-family homes up 2.0 percent in the third quarter and 3.6 percent on a year earlier; flats rose 5.9 percent on the year. The Zurich region and western Switzerland led for houses. Higher fixed-rate mortgage costs have not yet cooled demand.

Source: finews.ch

Zurich enforces limits on short-term rentals

Since 1 September the city treats short-term lets as commercial use. In zones with a 90 percent housing share, only 10 percent of flats may be let as furnished business apartments; people letting their own home while away are exempt. If you are arriving into a serviced apartment, ask the operator whether it is licensed.

Source: The Local Switzerland

Home-office rules may become more flexible

On 13 October the upper chamber's economic committee backed a change already approved by the National Council: for people working from home, the daily working window would widen from 14 to 17 hours and the rest period would shorten from 11 to 9 hours. It is not law yet; the Council of States votes next.

Source: The Local Switzerland

Driving tests change on 1 January 2027

A theory course becomes compulsory before the exam, the theory test grows from 55 to 60 questions, and the first-aid course and eye test move online. This matters only if you have to sit a Swiss test; many foreign licences can simply be exchanged within the first 12 months.

Source: The Local Switzerland

The government moves ahead on rules for social media and search engines

On 14 October the Federal Council asked the communications department to draft a law for large online platforms, with stronger protection for children and a reporting procedure for all content suspected of being unlawful. A draft is expected in 2027.

Source: Federal Council

This week if you're arriving

• Clocks go back one hour on Sunday 25 October at 03:00.
• Your 2027 health insurance premium must reach you by 31 October. Compare on priminfo.admin.ch; a cancellation must arrive by 30 November.
• You can drive on a foreign licence for 12 months after arrival. Exchange it before then; after 12 months you may no longer drive on it here.

City in focus: Zug

• Zug has the lowest average health premium in the country for 2027: CHF 276.20 a month, up 4.4 percent.
• Asking rents in the canton fell 3.0 percent in August, the steepest monthly drop on the Homegate index.
• Zug already lets people with intellectual disabilities vote at cantonal level; on 14 October the Federal Council proposed the same nationally.
• Low taxes, high rents: do the sum for your own income before assuming Zug is cheaper.

A quiet note

Next Sunday the clocks go back and the evenings close in at once. Every year it surprises people, and every year it passes. The Swiss answer is not to fight the dark but to furnish it: a candle at the window, a fondue that takes too long, a walk at noon because it is the only light there is. Build your winter on purpose. It is long here, and it can be beautiful.