Your flat in Zurich is empty or let to long-term tenants, and you are wondering whether short-term letting brings in more. Since the Federal Supreme Court ruling (Bundesgericht) of April 2026, however, the first question is not the return but the zone — and the answer differs from one district to the next.
Regelung in Zürich: eingeschränkt
On 30 April 2026 the Federal Supreme Court (Bundesgericht) confirmed the city regulation: short-term letting used permanently for commercial purposes no longer counts towards the mandatory minimum residential quota (Wohnanteil) in zones where such a quota applies. According to the city, around 5,320 units are affected. Occasional letting of your own flat while you are away is expressly not affected. Which zone applies to your address is available from the Amt für Städtebau — you should obtain that information before buying.
Stand unserer Recherche: 30. Juli 2026. Keine Rechtsauskunft — verbindlich ist die Auskunft der Gemeinde.
Die Lage
Zurich is the largest accommodation market in Switzerland. Demand is spread across the whole year and rests on three pillars: business travel to the financial and technology sectors, congresses and trade fairs, and city tourism.
Unlike purely seasonal destinations, demand in Zurich does not collapse between seasons. Weekdays are dominated by business travellers, weekends and the summer months by tourists. That mix allows for steadier occupancy than in places that live on tourism alone.
Wer hier übernachtet
Business travellers, congress guests, city tourists, families on a stopover
Was wir in Zürich übernehmen
Von der ersten Einschätzung bis zur laufenden Betreuung — Sie müssen sich um nichts kümmern.
01
First conversation
We view your property and assess what short-term rental can realistically achieve. Free and without obligation.
02
Listing & photography
We produce the photographs, write the listing and set up your profiles on the platforms.
03
Pricing
Rates adjust to demand, season and events in Zurich — continuously, not once.
04
Management
Enquiries, check-in, cleaning, laundry and maintenance are handled by us. You receive the statement.
Was Eigentümer in Zürich am häufigsten fragen — mit Quelle, wo es eine gibt.
Am I allowed to let my flat in Zurich short-term at all?
That depends on the zone your address sits in. Since the Federal Supreme Court ruling (Bundesgericht) of 30 April 2026, the city may no longer count permanent commercial short-term letting towards the mandatory minimum residential quota (Wohnanteil) — in zones where that quota applies, this amounts to inadmissibility. According to the city, around 5,320 units are affected. Occasional letting of your own flat while you are away is not affected. Which residential quota applies to your address is set out in the building and zoning ordinance (Bau- und Zonenordnung); the building authority provides that information free of charge. This check is yours to make: we provide operational letting services and do not advise on permit questions.
Which Zurich districts work best for short-term letting?
Market data indicates around 59 per cent occupancy at an average of CHF 175 for the old town and Seefeld (early 2026); the strongest areas are considered to be the old town, the centre and Zurich West. More important than the ranking, however, is the pattern: the old town lives on its location itself, Oerlikon on trade fairs and the Hallenstadion, Zurich West on its nightlife crowd. A property in Oerlikon needs a different pricing calendar than one in Seefeld — run both the same way and you leave money on the table with one of them.
How much does a flat in Zurich earn per month?
For well-run one-bedroom flats in strong Swiss urban markets, gross revenues of CHF 3,000 to 5,000 per month are cited — with the explicit caveat that net returns vary considerably depending on compliance costs and season. Deducted from gross revenue: platform commission of 15 to 20 per cent, cleaning at CHF 80 to 250 per turnover, consumables, vacancy, management. A figure for your flat we give in the first conversation, not on a website.
Do I need a building application in Zurich?
For a change of use (Nutzungsänderung) to permanent commercial short-term letting, yes — and according to the city even when no construction work is involved. A building application (Baugesuch) without building sounds contradictory, but it follows from the fact that the zoning ordinance addresses the type of use, not the structure. This does not apply to occasional letting of your own flat while you are away.
Do I have to register my guests in Zurich?
Yes, via the portal hotelkontrolle.zh.ch. Hosts register there in advance and report every overnight stay electronically. The Zurich city police state expressly in their guidance that anyone letting commercially through online platforms is also subject to the obligation. Two common misunderstandings: the obligation covers all guests, not only foreign ones. And registration belongs before the first booking — a failure to report can be a criminal offence. This obligation rests with the host and cannot be transferred; we do not take it on.
What does Airbnb management in Zurich cost?
Market rates for full service in Zurich run from 20 to 30 per cent of rental income; premium providers charge over 40 per cent of the booking total. Individual providers quote 20 per cent as their standard rate. We start at 18 per cent for the same scope: listing, photography, pricing, guest support, cleaning coordination. No base fee, no setup costs, cancellable monthly.
Keine Rechts- oder Steuerauskunft — verbindlich ist die Auskunft der Gemeinde.
