While there remains plenty of restrictions to buying property in switzerland, the Swiss government has over the past 18 months, relaxed the laws preventing non-Swiss residents from buying property, permitting 1,400 foreigners to buy each year. Consequently a large number of Brits have been taking advantage of the countrys low mortgage rates and buying up property in Switzerland, a year-round destination.

Foreigners are allowed to buy only one property in Switzerland and it must be less than 200 square metres, but there is even talk that these rules will be abolished by the end of next year. With a lively rental market and property prices rising, Switzerland may well prove a future property hot spot.