Basel’s housing crisis forces families out as five-room apartments vanish
Basel is grappling with a severe housing crisis, especially for larger apartments. Families are finding it challenging to locate suitable homes as the vacancy rate for five-room properties plummets to just 0.3%. With rents surging and affordability diminishing, many are being forced out of the city entirely.
The cost of living in Basel has skyrocketed, with average monthly rents for a five-room family apartment now around 2,800 Swiss francs. Over the past year, asking rents have soared by 5%, further squeezing households. Meanwhile, only 5% of taxable households in Basel-Stadt can comfortably afford an average owner-occupied apartment without financial risk.
The housing squeeze in Basel shows no signs of abating. With rents climbing and larger apartments in short supply, more families are anticipated to relocate. The city’s high proportion of solo households and limited affordability suggest the trend will persist unless significant changes are implemented.
