Selling property in Menznau: figures and rules

Official statistics on prices paid are missing for Menznau. The Canton of Lucerne does not collect them by municipality, unlike the Canton of Zurich. Portal values for Menznau rest on offers, not on completed sales.

What is on record is the stock: Menznau has 656 buildings with residential use in the Willisau constituency. 243 of them are single-family houses, or 37.0%. The cantonal figure is 45.3%. Menznau ranks 19 of 21 in the Willisau constituency. In total, Menznau has 1,415 dwellings. 48.8% were built before 1981, against 49.9% in the canton. 7 hectares of 104.1 hectares of building zone are undeveloped, or 6.7% (as of 2022). For the share of undeveloped zone, Menznau ranks 45 of 79 in the canton.

For a single house in Menznau, location, plot, age and condition count, measured against comparable sales. You receive a written price range with its reasoning in the free assessment.

In Menznau, 320 of 656 buildings with residential use date from before 1981. That is 48.8%. Among the 79 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 26, counting from the highest share. In the Willisau constituency: rank 9 of 21. Menznau therefore has a lower share than the canton at 49.9%. Compared with Menznau, the figure in Willisau is 54.0%.

In Menznau, oil or gas heats 203 buildings with residential use, 30.9%, against 39.7% in the canton. Among the 79 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 40, counting from the highest share. Oil and gas are less common in Menznau than the cantonal average.

Anyone selling in Menznau adds records of heating, roof and windows to the sale documents. From 1 January 2029, owners living in their home in Menznau lose the imputed rental value and the maintenance deduction.¹ The calculation before a renovation is in Renovate or sell.

Menznau has 3,168 residents. 576 of them, 18.2%, are 65 or older, against 19.4% in the canton. Among the 79 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 43, counting from the highest share. In the Willisau constituency: rank 10 of 21. Compared with Menznau, the figure in Willisau is 21.7%.

On 1 June 2026, 4 homes in Menznau were empty, 0.28% of the stock, against 0.70% in the canton. Among the 79 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 27, counting from the lowest vacancy. In Menznau, rented and owned homes are counted; the figure does not show how many houses are for sale.

The municipal tax rate of Menznau is 1.95 units. Among the 79 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 41, counting from the lowest tax rate. It applies to income and wealth; the municipality atlas compares all municipalities. By public transport, Zurich HB is 76 minutes away from the Menznau stop, with 1 change.

In Lucerne, property gains tax follows the income tax scale for single people, even for married couples. The law multiplies this by 4.2 units, the same everywhere. Under five years owned, the tax rises by up to 50 per cent. After more than nine years, it falls by up to 25 per cent.²

Sellers of an owner-occupied home may defer the tax. They must buy or build a new Swiss home within two years before or after the sale. A holiday or second home does not count. Only the part by which it costs more than their acquisition costs is deferred. Deferred does not mean waived. The deferred gain is taxed when the new home is sold.²

A property transfer tax of 1.5 per cent of the purchase price also applies. The buyer alone owes it.³

Only a Lucerne notary may certify the purchase contract. This can be a lawyer with an office in the canton, or a licensed municipal clerk.⁴