How to reduce? Legitimacy of housing sufficiency policies in the case of occupancy requirements in Switzerland

In most countries of the Global North, living space is very unevenly distributed. After their children have moved out, “empty nesters” often occupy significantly more living space per person than average, while growing families face a housing shortage. A more equal distribution of living space could simultaneously mitigate housing shortages with less new construction and address social and environmental issues. However, policies promoting more equitable living space distribution are rare and often seen as illegitimate interventions into the private sphere. Occupancy requirements in Switzerland present a unique exception, typically mandating that the minimum number of residents must equal the number of rooms minus one. If this condition is not met, for instance, when children move out, residents must either relocate to a smaller flat or find new household members. In 2012, this regulatory policy applied to 68% of cooperative dwellings in Switzerland and several municipal housing providers. Based on 24 qualitative interviews with residents and administrative staff, this article examines the reasons underlying the support of cooperative members for implementing occupancy requirements. One key finding is that the policy is perceived as just and needs-oriented and, therefore, as legitimate. A guarantee for lifelong, affordable housing, a sense of community, a trustworthy and needs-oriented process design, and needs-oriented infrastructure development play pivotal roles in fostering this perception. Thus, the legitimacy of occupancy requirements builds on contexts that are rather specific to nonprofit housing, especially to cooperatives, which influences the adaptability of the measure in other contexts.