Hi All,

I have a 5 year B permit and wish to purchase a flat in Zurich as I plan to stay here a long time and make this my main home. My question is whether I would be able to rent out the apartment if I ever had to go back to the UK. Are B permit holders in Zurich allowed to purchase a property and then rent it out anyway?

Thanks in advance

I have no hard facts on this but I recall a friend wanting to do the same with a house a few years ago and learning there's a law prohibiting property owners from leasing for the first ten years of ownership, in the interests of curbing speculators dominating the market. Dunno if this is still the case though. Let us know how you get on

Ok the speculation aspect makes sense perhaps something they should have thought about in the UK, seems the swiss have there heads screwed on in that aspect. I heard a similar thing but then heard it was abolished in Zürich and you can rent out..hummmm. I don't know where to start I suppose im going to have to call a real estate management company posing as an owner and inquire . I'll let you know how I get on..thx

I just googled some info on this that some may find interesting :-)

http://switzerland.angloinfo.com/cou...d/housebuy.asp

I did some reasearch on this last year and even wrote to some officials..

in brief, as a resident, you may acquire a home without having to seek specific permission, provided that is your only and 'main' residence.. if and when your circumstances change in the future and you move away, you may keep, sell or lease out the property as you choose.

hope this helps

Thanks dino that is good to know and is what the article also mentons it seems I will verify with some officals also for my own piece of mind

and when you do, pls post your findings here, for the benefit of the others.
In fact, it would be even better to quote the documents or the relevant departments/officials you spoke with... which indeed I should have done as well, but that was many months ago and I can't find my notes ...