Zurich landlord prioritizes foreign tenants to counter past discrimination

A Zurich landlord is advertising an apartment with a stated preference for foreign tenants, a deliberate reversal of past discrimination he faced. Enrico Zingg, 68, is renting the 2.5-room flat for 2,630 francs per month starting October 1, 2026. Zingg, who was born in Switzerland but raised in Milan, says he experienced "rented only to Swiss" notices when he arrived. He believes foreigners still face disadvantages in the housing market and wants to send a signal in the opposite direction. The retiree insists he is not systematically excluding Swiss applicants, calling his preference a "contribution to universal justice." He notes that foreign populations are often concentrated in certain Zurich neighborhoods.