More than 200 households in Zürich’s Witikon district are facing eviction after Zurich Insurance and UBS served mass termination notices for three housing estates. This has triggered fresh anger over the loss of affordable homes and the social fabric of the neighbourhood, according to personal stories reported by local media.
A total of 156 apartments owned by Zurich Insurance and 59 owned by a UBS real estate fund are affected, with tenants told they must vacate by 2027–2028 to make way for demolition and higher-density redevelopment.
The latest wave hits three neighbouring estates in Witikon:
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Wiesliacher settlement (Zurich Insurance): 60 rental households in buildings 81–97 must leave by end-May 2028. The 1981-built settlement is being cleared for redevelopment.
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Stodolastrasse (Zurich Insurance): 32 rental households face eviction.
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Carl-Spitteler-Strasse (UBS fund): 59 apartments, a daycare centre and a painting business are affected, with residents told to leave by March 2027. Around 100 people will lose their homes.
In total, some 200 people are being displaced across the three sites.
Zurich Insurance Says Buildings Are Outdated And Unecological; UBS Argues Buildings Reached End Of Lifecycle
Zurich Insurance says the buildings are outdated and unecological, and plans to demolish the two settlements and rebuild with almost double the number of units, from 92 to around 196 apartments. The UBS fund argues the buildings have reached the end of their lifecycle and plans to replace 59 units with around 130 new homes.
The moves come amid a broader pattern of mass evictions in Witikon, where several estates have been cleared for redevelopment in recent years.
Affected tenants describe the notices as a destruction of the social fabric in the neighbourhood, with families, seniors and long-term residents forced out. The Mieterinnen- und Mieterverband Zürich (Tenants’ Association) is supporting some residents in challenging the terminations.
The FDP-backed “Gegenvorschlag” (counter-proposal) to the left’s housing protection initiative requires landlords to examine whether construction can be carried out with tenants in place or in phases, and to support tenants in finding new homes. But critics say the measures do not go far enough to prevent displacement.
The evictions have reignited debate over a business model in which investors allow properties to deteriorate, then demolish and rebuild for higher returns. In a tight housing market like Zürich’s, the loss of affordable stock is particularly acute.
