«People want holidays, a car, and then to work less – yes, then housing becomes expensive»: Zurich's top homeowner is annoyed by the demands of Zurich residents

Albert Leiser, a prominent figure in Zurich's political landscape and the long-serving director of the Zurich Landowners' Association (HEV), is set to retire from the city parliament after an impressive 27-year tenure. His departure marks the end of an era, particularly as he leaves behind a strong critique of what he perceives as a societal shift towards excessive entitlement and a flawed approach to housing affordability.

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Man will Ferien, man will ein Auto und dann noch weniger arbeiten – ja, dann wird die Wohnung teuer

Leiser, who entered politics in 1999, expresses frustration with what he describes as an increasing demand for state intervention and a desire for less work coupled with higher living standards. He points to the post-pandemic era and the energy crisis triggered by the Ukraine war as periods where this demand for government support intensified, citing the introduction of heating cost subsidies in Zurich as an example. "The mentality has become fixed: if I'm not doing well, I'll call the state," Leiser stated, lamenting a perceived erosion of personal responsibility.

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The mentality has become fixed: if I'm not doing well, I'll call the state.

From Leiser's perspective, this societal trend is unsustainable and directly contributes to the escalating cost of living, particularly housing. He contends that the focus on providing support to those who may not strictly need it is financially untenable and will inevitably lead to a 'correction.' He controversially suggests that a 'little recession' could be beneficial, serving as a reality check on who finances what. Leiser also takes aim at left-wing parties, accusing them of selectively criticizing property owners and institutional investors for high housing costs while readily accepting substantial annual land gains tax revenues – amounting to 500 million Swiss francs – generated by these same owners.

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I always say: A little recession is not bad – if only to become aware again of who actually finances what.

Leiser's departure from the city parliament, where his FDP party often finds itself outnumbered by a red-green majority, comes at a time when housing affordability remains a critical issue in Zurich. His outspoken views, rooted in a defense of property owners' rights and a call for greater fiscal prudence, offer a distinct perspective often at odds with the prevailing political discourse in the city. His critique highlights a fundamental tension between demands for social welfare and the economic realities of maintaining a prosperous, albeit expensive, urban environment.

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The left-wing parties like to complain about the wicked institutional investors and property owners when it comes to housing, but they don't say a word about the fact that the owners pay 500 million francs in land gains tax per year. They are happy to take this money.