Domestic housing need

General

A legitimate interest exists if the property to be acquired will serve the purchaser or his/her family to meet an existing domestic housing need or to meet a future domestic housing need.

Eligible Persons

• Liechtenstein, Swiss or EEA nationals residing in Liechtenstein or third-country nationals, provided they can prove that they have lived in Liechtenstein for at least 10 years without interruption, can claim a given need for accommodation;
• Liechtenstein citizens, Swiss citizens or EEA nationals residing in Liechtenstein as well as third-country nationals, provided they can demonstrate at least 10 years of uninterrupted residence in Liechtenstein, have the option of claiming a future residential need for the purchase of a property between the age of 13 and the age of majority;
• legal persons can claim a given housing need for their beneficiaries (see for this acquisition by a foundation, an institution without members or a trust similar to a foundation).

Allowable number of plots and size

Permission to acquire a plot of land is denied if the acquirer already has a plot of land to meet his housing needs. Permitted is the acquisition of one lot and one condominium unit, or alternatively, the acquisition of two condominium units.

The land to be acquired may not exceed a maximum size of 1,440 m². However, it is not permissible to acquire several smaller plots until a total area of 1,440 m² is reached. A single plot of land is sufficient to meet the housing requirement, even if it does not reach the total permitted area of 1,440 m².

Suitability of the plot to meet the housing need

The land to be acquired must be either overbuilt or ready for construction to meet the given housing need. To meet future housing needs, the land to be acquired must be either overbuilt or in a zone designated for residential construction. The zoning of the land to be acquired must be confirmed to the land transfer authority, i.e. a property description must be submitted. This is issued by the respective municipality in which the property to be acquired is located.

Condition subsequent in case of coverage of a future housing need

In the case of the acquisition of a plot of land which serves to cover a future residential need, approval may be granted subject to the resolutory condition that the place of residence must be transferred to Liechtenstein within three years of the granting of the land transfer authority approval.

Acquisition of co-ownership

The acquisition of co-ownership of a plot of land is treated in the same way as the acquisition of sole ownership of a plot of land. The acquirer of a co-ownership share must therefore also meet the personal and factual requirements mentioned above.