BG Glattal (BGZ): apartments and how to apply

Yes, for publicly advertised apartments. You cannot buy in beforehand. You only become a member with a permanent tenancy agreement.

As a rule, yes. According to the 2009 Statuten (articles of association), at least 20 shares of CHF 100, plus further shares depending on the apartment. The listing states the amount.

Yes. At move-in: 3 to 3½ rooms from 65 m² 2 people, 4 to 4½ rooms 3, 5 to 5½ rooms 4. Lower in Stadel.

BGZ checks whether the rent is affordable. We did not find a general limit. For subsidised apartments the rules of the city and canton apply.

No. BGZ keeps no waiting list for external applicants. You can only apply for an advertised listing.

Available apartments go first to existing members: to households from estates that are being demolished, and to members who have to move for family or health reasons. Only what cannot be allocated internally is advertised publicly.

A listing only stays published until enough applications have been received. BGZ does not state a fixed number.

BGZ keeps no waiting list for external applicants and does not consider speculative applications. You can only apply online for an advertised apartment.

Available apartments appear on BGZ's website. According to the letting page, BGZ also publishes them on Flatfox.

At move-in the following applies: up to 2½ rooms and small 3-room apartments (up to 65 m²) 1 person, 3 to 3½ rooms from 65 m² 2 people, 4 to 4½ rooms 3 people, 5 to 5½ rooms 4 people, 6 to 6½ rooms 5 people. In Stadel I and II the requirements are lower. From four rooms, families with children have priority.

Only someone who has a permanent tenancy agreement with BGZ and pays in the share capital becomes a member. Buying in beforehand is not possible.

The current Statuten of 2009 require at least 20 shares of CHF 100, i.e. CHF 2’000. The board sets further shares depending on the investment costs of the apartment, at most 10 per cent of them. The admission fee is at most CHF 100. Shares cannot be paid for with money from the occupational pension scheme.

BGZ selects according to the Vermietungsreglement (letting regulations), the completeness of the documents and the date of receipt. According to BGZ, the number of people, solvency (ratio of income to rent), references and connection to the neighbourhood are taken into account.

For subsidised apartments the regulations of the city and canton apply.

Dogs are not allowed, except in the Stadel I and Stadel II estates. Indoor cats need written permission, and at most two are allowed. Cats are not allowed on the ground floor, on the raised ground floor or in terraced houses.

Available apartments go first to existing members. According to BGZ, several replacement buildings are planned, so many households from buildings due for demolition are relocated internally. In addition, members rarely give notice.

As a rule, letting starts about one year before move-in. BGZ then links a letting page on its website through which you can apply. Before that it sends out no information and keeps no list.

No, except in the Stadel I and Stadel II estates in Stadel bei Niederglatt. BGZ examines exceptions case by case for assistance dogs and for dogs needed for work. Indoor cats need written permission.

An apartment is under-occupied if it has more than two rooms more than residents; for terraced single-family houses, two is already enough. A two-year period then applies for moving to a smaller apartment. BGZ makes two apartment offers for this.

Among the points additionally taken into account, the Vermietungsreglement lists the C permit for people from outside the EU/EFTA and the B permit for EU/EFTA citizens. BGZ also writes that a migration background plays no role in allocation.