Housing protection An average renovation surcharge of 34 francs in Basel-Stadt

Since the introduction of housing protection in Basel-Stadt, an average surcharge of CHF 34 per apartment on the monthly rent has been possible. For simple and comprehensive procedures, the Housing Protection Commission (WSK) approves an average of 64 francs. This is the result of an evaluation carried out by the Tenants' Association (MV) based on the WSK rulings.

The MV Basel has reviewed all 135 application decisions since the existence of the WSK, i.e. since 28 May 2022. These relate to a total of 1080 apartments, as the association announced to the media on Friday.

Higher surcharges are possible for simple and comprehensive procedures, and none at all for registration procedures. In total, this amounts to CHF 35,885 per month or, broken down to one apartment, an average of CHF 34, as MV media spokesperson Beat Leuthardt said. In total, the legal framework has allowed 17.9 million francs to be passed on to tenants since the WSK came into existence.

In addition, despite housing protection, there are still isolated "outliers", such as a property on Schliengerweg, where the WSK approved surcharges of up to 362 francs. However, Leuthardt said that the MV would challenge this legally.

MV responds to criticism of housing protection

Based on its evaluation of the rulings, the MV came to the conclusion that renovations with "fair" surcharges are indeed possible in Basel and are also being carried out, as are energy efficiency measures. It thus contradicted the criticism of housing protection.

The WSK has been in place since the revised Housing Promotion Act and the associated ordinance came into force following the adoption of the popular initiative "Yes to real housing protection" in November 2021. The aim of the MV's initiative was to improve the protection of the resident population against mass terminations and rent increases.

The conservatives and Green Liberals criticized that the implementation of the initiative was blocking necessary renovations. This year, they therefore passed four motions to relax housing protection. Government President Conradin Cramer (LDP) then announced that the provisions would be relaxed at ordinance level.

SDA