Nov 13, 7:01 PM
Davos Voters to Decide on Quotas for Holiday Apartment Conversions
A local ballot on 29 November targets the shortage of permanent housing with mandatory reserves and financial levies.
Voters in Davos will decide on 29 November on a local proposal designed to curb the conversion of primary residences into secondary holiday properties. The measure, known as the housing compromise, introduces mandatory quotas and financial levies to address a shrinking supply of permanent housing in the Alpine resort.
Official documentation for the vote shows that secondary residences in Davos grew from 56 percent to 58.9 percent over the past decade. At the same time, the stock of primary homes has declined despite ongoing construction activity, which has faced delays due to legal appeals and objections against major projects. Local authorities estimate that the municipality will require more than 1,500 new primary apartments by 2035 to meet projected population and labor market needs.
Under the terms of the proposal, residential buildings with at least four pre-existing units built before 11 March 2012 will be subject to new rules when demolished, renovated, or converted into unit ownership. In these cases, at least 50 percent of the total residential floor space must be retained for primary residents. Property owners may opt out of up to half of this obligation by paying an exemption fee of 4,500 Swiss francs per square meter, with proceeds directed into a municipal fund dedicated to supporting local business and primary housing construction.
The draft agreement stems from a municipal initiative submitted in late 2025 with 835 signatures, which the initiative committee agreed to withdraw if the current proposal passes. The local parliament in Davos recommended accepting the proposal by a vote of 10 to 6. Opponents of the initiative, including representatives from the FDP and the SVP, contend that tighter regulatory requirements and state intervention will discourage private investment and ultimately hinder the construction of new housing. Approval by the electorate on 29 November would bring the new rules into force and formalize the withdrawal of the original initiative.
Written by Sandy van Dongen sandy.vandongen@alpineweekly.com
