01
252
Vacant apartments in Zurich
235 in 2025
UrbanHome - Renting guide
Only 252 vacant apartments in Zurich: How to still find an apartment in 2026
Only 252 homes were vacant in the City of Zurich on 1 June 2026, leaving the vacancy rate at just 0.11%. Yet Statistics City of Zurich says around 2,000 homes come onto the market every month. This guide explains what the figures really mean and how to improve your chances of finding a rental apartment in Zurich.
Author: Nikita von Niederhäuser, UrbanHome real estate expert Updated: - Reading time: approx. 13 minutes
02
0,11 %
Vacancy rate
still extremely low
03
246
Offered for rent
only 6 for sale
04
around 2,000
Homes entering the market per month
more relevant for your apartment search
The key distinction
The headline 'only 252 vacant apartments' highlights the extreme shortage, but it does not represent the total number of available listings.
Vacancy statistics
A snapshot.
Not the entire supply.
Market activity matters.
The vacancy figure captures one specific date. For people searching for an apartment, the ongoing market matters more.
1 June 2026 - City of Zurich
01
The vacancy count is a snapshot
. In Zurich, a home counts as vacant when it is unoccupied on 1 June and offered for sale or for rent for at least three months. Homes that are empty but already contracted to a future tenant or buyer are not counted. [3]
02
Many apartments are never recorded as vacant
For example, an apartment may become available at the end of August and be re-let for 1 September. It was on the market, but never appears in the vacancy count.
03
Around 2,000 apartments per month
Statistics City of Zurich estimates the active market supply at around 2,000 homes per month. [1]
What this means for you:
Do not wait for the vacancy rate to rise. New listings, fast alerts, a ready application file and a sufficiently broad search area matter more.
Size
Which apartment sizes are particularly scarce in Zurich?
In absolute terms, the largest groups of vacant homes were two-room apartments (73) and three-room apartments (80) vacant. Together, they account for almost two thirds of all 252 vacant apartments. [1]
1
1 room
around 0.13%
very scarce
2
2 rooms
73 vacant apartments
Vacancy rate around 0.13%. Relatively many vacant units, but also a large overall housing stock.
3
3 rooms
80 vacant apartments
Vacancy rate of 0.10%. Demand remains strong despite the highest absolute count.
4
4 rooms
0,09 %
especially tight for families
5
5 rooms
0,07 %
Lowest vacancy share of the listed apartment sizes.
6+
6+ rooms
0,15 %
Highest rate, but a comparatively small segment.
Start searching early for family apartments
Anyone seeking a four- or five-room apartment should set up alerts particularly early and include surrounding municipalities.
New-build apartments
More vacancies, but the market is not relaxed
The city counted 70 vacant new-build homes were counted. In 2025 there were 42, compared with just 18 in 2024 and seven in 2023. [1]
01
Vacant new-build homes
7 to 18 to 42 to 70
2023: 7 apartments
2024: 18 apartments
2025: 42 apartments
2026: 70 apartments
02
Price level
Around CHF 40 per m2
According to the city, rents for vacant apartments have been around CHF 40 per m²since 2024, compared with roughly CHF 31 per m² before 2024.
The higher vacancy rate in new buildings does not automatically mean housing is becoming more affordable.
Small sample sizes
New apartments may temporarily increase choice, but they are often in a higher price segment. The city itself cautions against over-interpreting the small figures.
City or canton?
Where are your chances better?
Across the Canton of Zurich, 4,189 homeswere vacant on 1 June 2026. The vacancy rate increased slightly from 0.48% to 0,52 %. [2]
ZH
City of Zurich
0,11 %
The lowest rate mentioned here, indicating an especially tight market.
KT
Canton of Zurich
0,52 %
4,189 vacant apartments throughout the canton. The market remains tight across the canton as well.
OL
Zürcher Oberland
0,95 %
A relatively higher vacancy rate within the canton.
PF
Pfannenstiel
0,90 %
Also significantly higher than in the City of Zurich.
WI
Winterthur
0,20 %
Higher than in the City of Zurich, but still very low.
UrbanHome tip:
Create several search profiles: City of Zurich, neighbouring municipalities and a third search along your most useful S-Bahn line.
Apartment search
In
7
7 strategies to find an apartment faster
In Zurich, speed, preparation and search radius often matter just as much as your budget.
Goal
See more suitable listings
01
Saved search
Activate notifications
New listings should be visible to you as early as possible.
02
Areas
Search several areas in parallel.
Focusing on just one preferred neighbourhood severely limits your choices.
03
Budget
Set a gross-rent budget
Include ancillary costs instead of comparing net rents alone.
04
Criteria
Separate needs from preferences
Only make a balcony, lift or new building mandatory if you genuinely need it.
05
Dossier
Prepare before the viewing
This lets you respond immediately after a suitable viewing.
06
Direct offers
Watch replacement-tenant listings
Seamless tenant changes often never appear in vacancy statistics.
07
Surrounding area
Search by travel time, not municipal boundaries
Well-connected municipalities can materially widen the choice, depending on your budget and commute.
Rental application file
Act quickly - but handle personal data carefully
A complete and well-organised application helps in a tight market.
01
Typical documents
Prepare your application file
Application form
Proof of identity or residence permit
Recent proof of income or employment
Debt enforcement register extract
02
Data protection
Submit only necessary personal data
Switzerland's Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner states that landlords may request only personal data that has a direct connection with tenant selection or the rental contract and be proportionate to that purpose. [4]
The personal data of unsuccessful applicants must not be retained unnecessarily long.
Before signing
Check your rental agreement and deposit
Before agreeing, check the net rent, ancillary costs, start date, notice periods, any minimum term and the deposit arrangements.
For residential premises, any security provided in cash or securities may not exceed Art. 257e of the Swiss Code of Obligations , security in cash or securities for residential premises may not exceed three months' rent. A cash deposit must be placed by the bank in an account or deposit in the tenant's name. [5]
Be careful with advance payments:
Do not transfer a deposit or first rent solely on the basis of a listing or chat message. Verify the property, contract, landlord or agency and payment route.
UrbanHome search
Search for a rental apartment on UrbanHome
Because many Zurich homes are re-let without a longer vacancy period, monitoring new listings is more important than relying on the annual snapshot alone. Use the
01
Zurich city
Search rental apartments →
Browse current rental apartments
Use UrbanHome's rental search and enter Zurich as the location.
02
Search radius
Include neighbouring municipalities
Compare well-connected municipalities too, and focus on journey times rather than municipal boundaries alone.
03
Until the contract is signed
Do not stop search alerts too early
Only stop your active search when the contract, costs and move-in date have been definitively agreed.
Checklist
Get ready for your Zurich apartment search
Try to complete these steps before your next viewing.
01-06
Search
Search profile ready
maximum gross rent defined
several Zurich neighbourhoods or municipalities selected
UrbanHome rental search opened
search alerts activated
available for short-notice viewings
application ready to send
07-11
Documents and contract
Complete application
Proof of identity or residence permit ready
income or employment documents ready
recent debt enforcement register extract available
ancillary costs and deposit budgeted
contract and provider checked before payment
Sources
Sources and data status
The vacancy figures come from official data published by the City and Canton of Zurich. Information on data protection and rental deposits is based on the FDPIC and Fedlex.
Information and legal status checked on . The vacancy figure is a snapshot and must not be confused with the number of active property listings.
- Statistics City of Zurich: 252 vacant homes in Zurich, 18 August 2026
- Canton of Zurich: vacancy figures 2026
- Statistics City of Zurich: definition and methodology of the vacancy survey
- Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner: rental application forms
- Fedlex: Art. 257e Swiss Code of Obligations – security furnished by the tenant
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01
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02
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03
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04
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05
All guides about renting
Browse further UrbanHome information for tenants.
Direct answers
Frequently asked questions about apartment hunting in Zurich
The main answers, explained concisely.
8
Questions and answers
On 1 June 2026, the City of Zurich counted 252 vacant homes, equal to a vacancy rate of 0.11%.
No. The vacancy count is a snapshot. Statistics City of Zurich says around 2,000 homes come onto the market each month, many without a longer period of vacancy.
246 of the 252 vacant homes were offered for rent and six for sale.
In absolute numbers, 73 two-room and 80 three-room homes were vacant. Proportionally, homes with six or more rooms had the highest vacancy rate.
Across the canton, 4,189 homes were vacant on 1 June 2026, corresponding to a vacancy rate of 0.52%.
Search several areas at the same time, activate alerts, prepare your application file in advance and respond quickly but carefully to suitable listings.
Under Swiss data protection principles, requested personal data must be objectively necessary and proportionate for tenant selection or the rental contract.
For residential premises, a security paid in cash or securities may not exceed three months' rent.
UrbanHome guides
See more guides about renting
The key takeaways
Conclusion: Do not wait for a calmer market - search prepared
The 252 vacant apartments show how tight Zurich's housing market remains in 2026.
For apartment hunters, however, the second number matters just as much: According to Statistics City of Zurich, around 2,000 apartments enter the market every month. Many are re-let directly and never count as vacant apartments.
The most effective approach is therefore to search broadly, continuously and with a ready application rather than waiting for a general improvement in the vacancy rate.
Zurich apartment search
Search for a rental apartment on UrbanHome
Compare current rental listings on UrbanHome and widen your search to well-connected municipalities in the Canton of Zurich when useful.
Search Zurich city
Compare surrounding areas
Discover new listings