27 September 2026 — Ramzi Chamat
Geneva’s LDTR vote: what would selling to your tenant mean?
A Geneva landlord and a sitting tenant may both want to agree on a sale, yet the law can still prevent the transaction. On 27 September 2026, voters decide whether law 13025 should ease the rules in the LDTR, Geneva’s legislation on demolition, conversion and renovation of residential buildings. What would this mean for an owner considering a sale to the person already living in the flat?
Why does this matter in Geneva?
Only around 18% of Geneva households own their home, compared with roughly 36% nationwide. The vacancy rate was just 0.31% on 1 June 2026. The proposal would not create new homes: it would change how some existing rental flats can be sold.
The present rules
Article 39 of the LDTR protects rental housing. Selling a rented flat to its occupant currently requires, among other things, written agreement from at least 60% of the other tenants in the building and approval by the canton, which weighs the buyer’s private interest against the public interest in retaining rental stock. A sale may fail even when both parties want it.
Five conditions in the proposed law
Under law 13025, the alternative route would be subject to cumulative safeguards:
- The tenant must have lived in the flat for at least three years.
- The owner must willingly decide to sell, and the tenant must willingly decide to buy; neither party is compelled.
- The tenant must be informed of their rights, including protection against a notice linked to a sale. The proposal does not create a general right to terminate a lease in order to sell.
- The purchaser must personally occupy the home for at least five years after the purchase, subject to statutory exceptions.
- The sale price is capped by reference to the average approved condominium prices in development zones over the previous three years. Campaigners quoted about CHF 6,816 per square metre in August 2026; that is an indicative figure, not a permanent or universal price.
What changes for property owners?
No owner would have to sell. Owners wishing to retain their property could continue to let it. Those thinking of selling to their tenant would gain another route, but at a regulated price, not necessarily the open-market value. Before making an offer, an owner would need to check the building’s legal status, the tenancy, the occupant’s length of stay, the applicable price ceiling and any approval requirements.
The PLR, Centre, MCG and Green Liberals argue that a sitting tenant should be able to become an owner without moving. ASLOCA, the Socialists, Greens, UDC and LJS warn that easier individual sales could shrink the rental stock and encourage owners to favour prospective buyers when choosing tenants. Neither outcome is automatic: implementation and market behaviour matter.
Vote result
The official cantonal results report 36.5% Yes and 63.5% No on law 13025. No leads: the current requirements under Article 39 LDTR would continue to govern sales of rented flats. Owners and tenants must still follow the existing approval procedure. Published figures may change while counting continues; check the canton’s website for their latest status.
