Frequently asked questions about housing cooperatives
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The basics
How does a housing cooperative work?
A housing cooperative (Wohnbaugenossenschaft) belongs to its members. Someone who lives in a cooperative flat is usually both a member and a co-owner. They buy shares (Anteilscheine), which gives them a vote at the general assembly (Generalversammlung), and they rent the flat from the cooperative they co-own. Most cooperatives are non-profit (gemeinnützig). They charge cost rent (Kostenmiete), not market rent: the rent covers interest, upkeep, depreciation and administration, but no profit.
How many housing cooperatives are listed?
The directory lists 1'130 non-profit housing providers (cooperatives and foundations) with a checked record in 423 municipalities. Together they give 128'289 flats; only those that publish a number are counted.
Becoming a member
Which cooperatives take members at the moment?
274 of 1'130 take members at the moment, according to their own documents. All known statements: Open to new members: 274, Waiting list: 201, Projects only: 29, Closed: 28.
How much share capital do cooperatives ask for?
For 417 of 1'130 cooperatives the share capital (Anteilscheinkapital, the amount a member pays in and gets back on leaving) is documented publicly. Per person for 255: median CHF 1'000, from CHF 100 to CHF 50'000. Per flat for 123: median CHF 3'500, from CHF 100 to CHF 100'000. Per room for 21: median CHF 1'000, from CHF 400 to CHF 6'000. Where a range is given, the lowest amount counts.
Can you become a member before you have a flat?
It is documented for 302 cooperatives: 166 take members before they have a flat; with the other 136, you become a member only with the tenancy agreement.
Do you have to live in the municipality?
The residence requirement is documented for 126 cooperatives: none: 98, in the municipality: 17, in the canton: 5, permit B or better: 4, in Switzerland: 2. For the others it is not documented publicly; that means «unknown», not «none».
Finding a flat
Do cooperatives keep waiting lists?
It is documented for 304 cooperatives: 214 keep a waiting list, 90 do not. 201 cooperatives currently have the status «Waiting list».
How do I find free cooperative flats?
Several times a day the directory checks 365 pages on which cooperatives advertise free flats. In the last 30 days, 228 free flats were seen there, 223 are online at the moment. Flats are most often advertised on: Own website (194), Newsletter (37), ImmoScout24 (16), Newhome (6).