Zurich Housing Crisis: Full-Time Job, Clean Record, Yet No Home for a Year

Adilson Cicoti, 59, navigates the increasingly brutal Zurich housing market, a year-long quest for a home leaving him exhausted. Despite a full-time job, paid bills, and a spotless record, Cicoti finds himself in a Catch-22: too well-off for subsidized housing, yet unable to compete with soaring rents.

His current living situation is precarious. His roommate's decision to live alone by year's end triggered a stressful three-month deadline to find new accommodation. Cicoti diligently checks online listings daily, but cannot afford the search subscriptions that could streamline the process. His search history is a relentless cycle of Flatfox, Homegate, and Immoscout.

Cicoti's housing struggle is compounded by personal circumstances. A separation from his wife of 27 years led him to live with a friend in a shared apartment. However, he realized he couldn't afford two rents while supporting his son's studies. Only after his son became financially independent could Cicoti move out, only to face the current daunting housing search.

The situation in Zurich is dire, with rising rents pushing young people to delay independence or remain in shared housing. Some are forced to leave the city altogether, while the most unlucky face homelessness or rely on hotels. Cicoti's story is a stark illustration of the city's housing crisis, where even those with stable employment are struggling to find a place to call home.

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I earned too little to pay for my son's studies and two rents.