Business apartments banned in Zürich? Stay compliant — without losing income.
The Federal Court has upheld the ban; it takes effect autumn 2026. If your furnished units sit in the protected residential share, they must return to long-term living. Room Estate takes them over — with guaranteed rent.
Is my address affected?
Pick postcode, street and house number — we’ll show the zone and whether the ban applies.
Indicative. The zone implies the residential share; the parcel-exact percentage requires the BZO residential-share plan and case-by-case legal review.
Three facts that matter.
The Federal Court has ruled
Ruling 1C_401/2024 (30 April 2026): Zürich may exclude temporarily let second homes from the minimum residential share.
Enforced from autumn 2026
New use as a business apartment becomes subject to notification and a building permit — even without structural conversion.
No grandfathering
Existing commercial short-term lets are not protected. Existing units must revert to long-term living.
Operator or owner — both must act.
Turn an impermissible short-term unit into a compliant long-term home.
Room Estate master-leases your apartments long-term (up to 20 years, genuine residential use from 3 months) and pays you a guaranteed, predictable rent. Room Estate assumes the vacancy risk.
Contact us now
An initiative by Room Estate AG — Switzerland’s #1 coliving provider.Why Room Estate is compliant
Business apartment (the problem)
- Short-term, furnished
- No main residence
- Withdraws housing from the residential share
- Now restricted in the residential share
Room Estate (the solution)
- Furnished, but with a real tenancy
- Tenants register their main residence
- Term of 3 months or more, open-ended
- Proven & designed for compliance since 2014
This page provides general information, not legal advice. The model is designed to comply with residential use; a case-by-case review remains decisive.
More on the topic
In-depth articles on the ruling, the affected zones and the compliant solution.
What happened?
The Federal Supreme Court ruling 1C_401/2024, the minimum residential share and what now applies — in detail.
Read more →For operators
A forced wind-down in the residential share, declaration duty, no grandfathering — and the options that remain.
Read more →For owners
Many owners don’t know their apartment is being short-let — yet they carry the legal risk.
Read more →Wohnanteil explained
What the minimum residential share is, which zones are affected and when a unit drops out.
Read more →Compliant solution
How the Room Estate model turns an impermissible short-term let into genuine, long-term living.
Read more →Compliant in three steps.
Tell us your property
You give us your apartment(s) in Zürich.
Receive an offer
Room Estate reviews and proposes a long-term lease.
Guaranteed rent
Compliant, managed, predictable income — from day one of the lease.
Dependable. Predictable. Established across Switzerland.
Switzerland’s largest coliving provider takes over your units — with more than a decade of experience.
Are you affected? We have a solution.
Talk to us about a compliant takeover with guaranteed rent.
Send your request
We’ll reply with an initial assessment — no obligation, confidential.
This page provides general information, not legal advice. The parcel-exact residential share (BZO residential-share plan) and a case-by-case legal review are decisive.
Thank you — your request was received. We’ll be in touch within 1–2 business days.
More about Room Estate ↗Frequently asked questions
What did the Federal Court decide?+
Ruling 1C_401/2024 (30 April 2026): Zürich may exclude temporarily let second homes from the minimum residential share. The rule takes effect autumn 2026.
Am I affected as an owner or operator?+
Affected are furnished short-term lets (under 1 year, without a primary residence) in zones with a minimum residential share — residential, core and neighbourhood-conservation zones. Check your address with the tool above.
What does “residential share” (Wohnanteil) mean?+
The portion of a property that must serve as housing, set in the building and zoning ordinance (BZO). Business apartments no longer count towards it.
How does Room Estate make me compliant?+
Room Estate leases your apartments long-term (from 3 months, genuine residential use with registration) and pays you a guaranteed rent — compliant, with no vacancy and no effort on your side.