
The tenants’ association, ASLOCA, is launching an initiative to increase state owned housing in Geneva.
Currently less than 12% of the canton’s housing stock is owned publicly. But the law sets a minimum of 20%.
ASLOCA wants to improve the state’s right of ‘pre-emption’ – that would allow the canton, or a municipality, to jump in when a property is being sold and secure it for the state.
The hope is that it would prevent speculation. Many left-wing parties say they’re concerned about some of the massive prices paid for property recently. The proposed law would allow the state to intervene.
Campaigners have four months to collect 4,200 signatures.