The Biggest Swiss Housing Cooperatives by City (2026 Directory)
Switzerland has over 1,500 registered housing cooperatives (Wohnbaugenossenschaften), but finding them is surprisingly hard. Each one operates independently, advertises on its own website, and manages its own waitlist. There is no official directory.
This guide lists the largest and most active cooperatives by city, with notes on how to apply and what to expect.
Why Cooperative Size Matters
Larger cooperatives tend to have:
- More frequent openings (more units = more turnover)
- More transparent processes (established websites and waitlists)
- Greater unit variety (studio to 6+ rooms)
- More stable finances (less insolvency risk)
Smaller cooperatives can also be excellent — shorter waitlists, tighter communities — but they require more research to find.
Zürich: The Cooperative Capital of Switzerland
Zürich has the highest density of cooperative housing in Switzerland. Roughly 25% of all rental apartments in the city are cooperative. The major players:
ABZ — Allgemeine Baugenossenschaft Zürich
- Founded: 1916
- Units: ~5,000 apartments across Zürich
- Profile: The oldest and largest cooperative in Zürich. Family-focused, with a strong community ethos. Buildings across the entire city.
- Waitlist: 8–15 years for popular units
- Apply: Register directly on the ABZ website. Initial contribution required.
- Note: ABZ is a benchmark — if you are serious about cooperative housing, this should be your first registration.
PWG — Personalwohnungen der Gemeinde Zürich
- Founded: 1907 (restructured as PWG Stiftung)
- Units: ~3,000 apartments
- Profile: Originally for city employees, now open to all Zürich residents. Strong focus on affordable housing for working families.
- Waitlist: 5–12 years
- Apply: Online registration on pwg.ch
- Note: PWG apartments are well-maintained and widely distributed across Zürich's neighbourhoods.
GBMZ — Genossenschaft Baugenossenschaft mehr als wohnen
- Founded: 2007 (buildings opened 2015)
- Units: ~450 apartments in Hunziker Areal (Zürich-Oerlikon)
- Profile: Modern, architect-designed, sustainability-focused. One of the most innovative cooperative developments in Europe.
- Waitlist: 3–8 years
- Apply: Online registration on meh-als-wohnen.ch
- Note: Popular with younger residents and families. Mix of housing types including shared flats (Clusterwohnungen).
Familienheim-Genossenschaft Zürich (FGZ)
- Founded: 1943
- Units: ~1,500 apartments in Leimbach (Zürich)
- Profile: Large, self-contained neighbourhood in southern Zürich. Primarily for families.
- Waitlist: 5–10 years
- Apply: Registration on fgzzurich.ch
- Note: FGZ is almost a village within a city — parks, playgrounds, community infrastructure.
Siedlungsgenossenschaft Unterstrass (SGU)
- Founded: 1920
- Units: ~700 apartments in Unterstrass district
- Profile: Historic buildings, central location, strong community culture.
- Waitlist: 6–12 years
- Apply: sgu.ch
Wohnbaugenossenschaft Zürich (WBG)
- Founded: 1919
- Units: ~1,800 apartments
- Profile: One of the traditional large cooperatives. Mix of older renovated and newer buildings.
Geneva: Cooperative Housing in the French-Speaking City
Geneva (Genève) has a strong cooperative tradition, though the market is even tighter than Zürich given the city's international workforce.
Logement Idéal
- Founded: 1919
- Units: ~2,500 apartments in Greater Geneva
- Profile: Geneva's largest housing cooperative. Wide range of unit types across many neighbourhoods.
- Waitlist: 3–10 years
- Apply: logement-ideal.ch
- Note: One of the first cooperatives people join when arriving in Geneva.
La Collective
- Founded: 2009
- Units: ~500 apartments
- Profile: Modern cooperative focused on sustainable, community-oriented living. Mix of housing models.
- Waitlist: 2–6 years
Coopérative des Cheminots (SBB/CFF)
- Units: ~600 apartments in Geneva region
- Profile: Originally for railway employees, now open to all. Well-maintained properties.
Basel: An Underrated Cooperative Market
Basel has a significant cooperative housing stock and, unlike Zürich or Geneva, often has more accessible waitlists — especially for families.
Allgemeine Wohngenossenschaft Basel (AWG)
- Founded: 1920
- Units: ~2,000 apartments across Basel and the surrounding region
- Profile: Basel's oldest and largest cooperative. Strong focus on affordable family housing.
- Waitlist: 2–7 years (shorter than Zürich equivalents)
- Apply: awg-basel.ch
Gemeinnützige Wohngenossenschaft Riehen
- Units: ~500 apartments in Riehen (Basel district)
- Profile: Community-focused, strong neighbourhood culture. Good option for families.
Wohngenossenschaft Kraftwerk Basel
- Founded: 2005
- Units: ~200 apartments
- Profile: Sustainability-focused, mixed-use building with commercial spaces.
Bern: The Federal Capital
Bern has a moderate cooperative sector. Competition is slightly lower than Zürich or Geneva.
Fambau Genossenschaft
- Founded: 1919
- Units: ~2,000 apartments in Bern and the Mittelland
- Profile: One of Switzerland's largest regional cooperatives, focused on families. Operates across a wide geographic area.
- Waitlist: 2–6 years
- Apply: fambau.ch
Wohnbaugenossenschaft Bern (WBG Bern)
- Founded: 1921
- Units: ~1,200 apartments
- Profile: Central Bern cooperative with a mix of historic and modern buildings.
Genossenschaft für Gemeinschaftliches Wohnen (GGW)
- Profile: Focused on communal living models. Good option for those interested in coliving or intergenerational living.
Winterthur: Zürich's Cooperative Neighbour
Winterthur is 20 minutes from Zürich by train and has significantly shorter waitlists.
Allgemeine Wohngenossenschaft Winterthur (AWOBA)
- Units: ~1,500 apartments
- Profile: Winterthur's dominant cooperative. Wide variety of unit sizes and neighbourhoods.
- Waitlist: 2–5 years
- Apply: awoba.ch
Lausanne and the Lake Geneva Region
Coopérative d'Habitation Lausanne (CHL)
- Units: ~3,000 apartments
- Profile: Lausanne's largest cooperative. Strong presence across the city and Lake Geneva shore.
- Waitlist: 3–8 years
- Apply: chl.ch
How to Monitor All of These Simultaneously
The challenge: each cooperative listed above has a different website, application portal, and notification system. Manually checking all of them weekly is a full-time job.
SwissCoHousing solves this by monitoring 150+ cooperative sources — including all the cooperatives listed here — and alerting you the moment a new listing appears. This is particularly valuable for cooperatives that post vacancies without prior announcement.
Key steps for maximising your chances:
- Register on the waitlists of the 3–5 cooperatives most relevant to you (city + household size)
- Set up real-time monitoring via SwissCoHousing Premium for immediate alerts
- Keep your application documents (Betreibungsauszug, salary slips) ready at all times
- Respond to offers within 24 hours
Read our full guide on how Swiss housing cooperatives work for more on the mechanics of membership and selection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Swiss cooperative is easiest to get into?
Cooperatives in smaller cities (Winterthur, Biel, Schaffhausen) and those in less central locations generally have shorter waitlists. Newer cooperatives that are expanding also offer more accessible entry points.
Do all cooperatives require a membership share?
Yes, virtually all Swiss housing cooperatives require a membership share (Anteilschein) as a condition of tenancy. Amounts range from CHF 200 to CHF 10,000 depending on the cooperative and apartment size. This is fully refunded when you leave.
Can I apply to cooperatives in multiple cities?
Absolutely. There is no restriction on registering with cooperatives in different cities simultaneously. If you are open to living in Zürich, Winterthur, or Basel, register in all three.
Are cooperative apartments well-maintained?
Quality varies significantly by cooperative and building age. Large, well-funded cooperatives like ABZ, PWG, and Logement Idéal maintain their properties to high standards. Some older buildings may be more basic. Ask about renovation history when viewing.
How do I know when a cooperative has openings?
Most cooperatives post vacancies on their website with little advance notice. The fastest way to know is to use SwissCoHousing, which monitors all major cooperative websites and alerts you immediately when something appears.