Real estate High willingness to pay for sustainable apartments
Tenants in Switzerland prefer sustainable apartments. However, the willingness to pay for this varies according to income, as a new study by the University of St. Gallen shows.
11.03.2025, 12:18
SDA
Swiss tenants appreciate apartments with good thermal insulation. And when it comes to heating systems, heat pumps are much more popular than oil and gas. On average, tenants would be prepared to pay around CHF 4 per square meter more per month for a very well insulated apartment than for an apartment that is only well insulated.
Respondents with a household income of less than CHF 4,500 would pay an average of CHF 3.30 more per square meter for such an apartment. People with a medium income (4501 to 9000 francs) have a similarly high willingness to pay. Affluent households with an income of over 9,000 francs would even pay a surcharge of over 6 francs per square meter of living space.
Solar systems also popular
There is also a willingness to pay for solar energy systems. 56 percent of study participants would be prepared to invest in a solar system on the roof of their rented apartment.
The willingness to contribute financially to the construction is highest among households with an income of over CHF 9,000 (72%). However, 46% of people with a medium income and 54% of people with a low income would also be prepared to pay a contribution towards the installation of a solar energy system.
"As with all studies with stated preferences, when interpreting these values it should be noted that the willingness to pay realized on the market is influenced by other factors," explains study author Rolf Wüstenhagen when asked by the news agency AWP. He cites supply and demand on the local housing market and the location of the apartment as examples.
Over 1000 tenants from Switzerland were surveyed for the study. According to the authors of the study, the results are representative.
