Cooperatives › GWG Winterthur
GWG Winterthur: apartments and how to apply
81 listings in the last 12 months. A random selection determines who is invited to a viewing. The listing states the deadline for registering.
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Applying to GWG Winterthur
- As a non-member
- Yes, all apartments publicly advertised
- Membership
- at least one person per apartment, 2–3 months' rent
- Minimum occupancy
- yes, number of people is in the listing
- Income and assets
- no binding upper income limit; rent must be affordable
- Waiting list
- since 2018 a draw instead of a waiting list
- Get the listingWith the search subscription you get every new GWG Winterthur listing immediately by email, with a link to the listing. GWG advertises all apartments on its own website.
- Register for the drawOpen the listing and fill in the form. Two days after publication, a draw decides who may view; you receive an acceptance or a rejection by email.
- View and applyAfter the viewing you can apply for the apartment. From the applications, GWG selects who is invited to a get-to-know-you interview.
- Rental contract and cooperative sharesGWG concludes the rental contract with the household that fits the estate best. At least one person per apartment becomes a member; that costs two to three months' rent.
How often does your apartment size come up?
Listings in the last 24 months, by number of rooms.
CHF 5 / month · cancel anytime. The more flexible your criteria, the more matching listings you receive.
Numbers
- SpeedAccording to GWG, a draw after the deadline decides who may view. The deadline is stated in the listing.
- TimingWe found new listings most often on Tuesday, mostly between 14:00 and 17:00.
- Rent3.5-room listings we found: median CHF 1’614 per month (46 listings).
- LocationMost listings were in Winterthur, Elsau and Ossingen.
From the listings we found; not a complete overview. Offline does not mean let.
According to GWG, a draw two days after a listing is published decides who may view. On average over 200 households are interested in an apartment, sometimes up to 700. Source
All numbers and charts
How long a listing stayed online
When we found new listings
Rents by number of rooms
Listings by size
| Size | GWG Winterthur | All providers | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 rooms | 4 | 216 | – |
| 2 rooms | 17 | 331 | CHF 806 |
| 2.5 rooms | 22 | 415 | CHF 1’487 |
| 3 rooms | 16 | 623 | CHF 972 |
| 3.5 rooms | 46 | 605 | CHF 1’614 |
| 4 rooms | 24 | 330 | CHF 1’225 |
| 4.5 rooms | 31 | 490 | CHF 1’803 |
| 5 rooms | 6 | 43 | CHF 1’832 |
| 5.5 rooms | 5 | 118 | CHF 2’547 |
| 6 rooms | 1 | 7 | – |
Places
Listings per month
The most recent listings
- 4 rooms · 80 m² · CHF 1’218Im Feldtal 3, 8408 Winterthur · 29 Sep 2026 · offline after 3 days
- 2.5 rooms · 63 m² · CHF 1’058Dorfstrasse 3a, 8404 Winterthur · 22 Sep 2026 · offline after 3 days
- 3 rooms · 58 m² · CHF 1’025Im Feldtal 8, 8408 Winterthur · 22 Sep 2026 · offline after 3 days
- 4.5 rooms · 82 m² · CHF 1’482Römerstrasse 149, 8404 Winterthur · 22 Sep 2026 · offline after 3 days
- 2.5 rooms · 65 m² · CHF 1’480Untere Vogelsangstrasse 189, 8400 Winterthur · 15 Sep 2026 · offline after 3 days
172 listings from the last 24 months, 312 since 27 Sep 2023. During the day we look for new listings every 30 to 60 minutes and can miss very short ones, so durations and times are approximate. Offline does not mean let. Rents as listed, median, only sizes with at least 5 listings.
Eligibility and allocation
Housing cooperative with around 1500 apartments in over 40 estates in and around Winterthur.
The five answers in full
- Can I apply as a non-member?
Yes. GWG advertises all apartments on its website. You can only become a member once you have a rental contract.
- Do I have to become a member, and what does it cost?
At least one person per apartment becomes a member of the cooperative. That costs two to three months' rent. There is no deposit.
- Is there a minimum occupancy?
Yes. The required number of people is stated in the listing. Everyone with officially registered residence is counted.
- Are there income or asset limits?
GWG has no binding upper income limit (as of 2024). The rent must be affordable; the listing gives a recommended income.
- Is there a waiting list?
In 2018 GWG gradually switched from the waiting-list principle to advertising with a draw.
Allocation rules and sources
- A draw decides who gets a viewing
Two days after a listing is published, GWG draws who may view the apartment.
«Zwei Tage nach dem Aufschalten des Inserats wird ausgelost, wer zu einer Besichtigung kommen kann.»
Source: gwg.ch, Freie Wohnungen (Vermietungsablauf), checked 5 Oct 2026 - Random selection, GWG households always included
A random selection determines who is invited to a viewing. Households already living with GWG may view in any case, but have no guarantee of getting the apartment (report as of 2024).
«Wer an die Besichtigung kommen kann, entscheidet ein numerischer Zufallsgenerator. So oder so kommen dürfen Haushalte, die bereits bei der GWG wohnen (ohne Zuschlagsgarantie auf die Wohnung).»
Source: gwg.ch, Fairness und Entwicklung: Wohnungsvermietung (as of 2024), checked 5 Oct 2026 - All apartments on gwg.ch
GWG advertises all apartments on its website. If you have subscribed to its apartment newsletter, you are also informed by email.
«Die GWG schreibt alle Wohnungen auf der Website aus. Wenn Sie den Wohnungsnewsletter abonnieren, werden Sie per Mail über die freien Wohnungen informiert.»
Source: gwg.ch, Freie Wohnungen (Vermietungsablauf), checked 5 Oct 2026 - Member only with a rental contract
You cannot buy cooperative shares in advance to improve your chances. You only become a member once you have a rental contract with GWG.
«Nein, Genossenschafter:in können Personen erst werden, wenn sie einen Mietvertrag mit der GWG haben.»
Source: gwg.ch, Freie Wohnungen (Fragen und Antworten), checked 5 Oct 2026 - Cooperative shares instead of a deposit
At least one person per apartment becomes a member of the cooperative. That costs two to three months' rent. There is no rent deposit, and the amount is repaid when you move out.
«Mindestens eine Person pro Wohnung wird Genossenschafter:in und damit Mitinhaber:in der GWG. Das kostet zwei bis drei Monatsmieten. Ein Mietzinsdepot oder eine Kaution gibt es nicht. Beim Auszug wird der Betrag zurückbezahlt.»
Source: gwg.ch, Freie Wohnungen (Vermietungskriterien), checked 5 Oct 2026 - Minimum occupancy is in the listing
Every apartment has a minimum occupancy. The number of people is stated in the listing. Everyone with officially registered residence is counted.
«Pro Wohnung gibt es eine Mindestbelegung. Wie viele Personen das sind, steht im Wohnungsinserat. Gezählt werden alle Personen mit offiziell angemeldetem Wohnsitz.»
Source: gwg.ch, Freie Wohnungen (Vermietungskriterien), checked 5 Oct 2026 - Statuten: under-occupancy
According to the Statuten (statutes), an apartment is in principle considered under-occupied if it has over two rooms more than the number of people living in it. Half rooms do not count.
«Eine Wohnung gilt grundsätzlich als unterbelegt, wenn die Zimmerzahl die Zahl der Bewohner/-innen um mehr als zwei übersteigt, wobei halbe Zimmer nicht gezählt werden.»
Source: gwg.ch, Statuten (PDF), Art. 4 para. 6, checked 5 Oct 2026 - Rent must be affordable
You must be able to pay the rent yourself or with support from the public authorities or third parties. The listing gives a recommended income.
«Die Miete muss selbstständig oder mit Unterstützung der öffentlichen Hand oder Dritten bezahlt werden können. Eine Einkommensempfehlung steht im Wohnungsinserat.»
Source: gwg.ch, Freie Wohnungen (Vermietungskriterien), checked 5 Oct 2026 - No binding upper income limit
By its own account, GWG has no binding guidelines on upper income limits (as of 2024). Income still plays a role in the selection: one of the deciding factors is whether a household depends on an affordable apartment.
«Oft diskutierte verbindliche Richtlinien zu Einkommensobergrenzen haben wir nicht. […] Das bedeutet in der Praxis nicht, dass das Einkommen keine Rolle spielt. Bei der Abwägung, mit wem wir einen Mietvertrag abschliessen, ist nebst der Durchmischung auch entscheidend, ob ein Haushalt auf eine günstige Wohnung angewiesen ist.»
Source: gwg.ch, Fairness und Entwicklung: Wohnungsvermietung (as of 2024), checked 5 Oct 2026 - A draw instead of a waiting list
In 2018 GWG gradually switched from the waiting-list principle to a new model: available apartments are advertised and the viewing appointments are drawn by lot (report as of 2024).
«2018 haben wir schrittweise vom Wartelistenprinzip auf ein neues Modell umgestellt. Heute schreibt die GWG alle freien Wohnungen auf der Website und via Newsletter aus. Die Besichtigungstermine werden verlost und wir folgen einem vorgegebenen Vermietungsablauf:»
Source: gwg.ch, Fairness und Entwicklung: Wohnungsvermietung (as of 2024), checked 5 Oct 2026 - Cats: stated in the listing
Whether cats are welcome in an apartment is stated in the listing concerned.
«Im Wohnungsinserat steht, ob Katzen willkommen sind.»
Source: gwg.ch, Freie Wohnungen (Vermietungskriterien), checked 5 Oct 2026
Frequently asked questions
- What are the chances of being drawn at GWG?
That depends on the number of people interested. According to GWG, on average over 200 households are interested in an apartment, sometimes up to 700. Anyone already living with GWG automatically gets a viewing appointment in the draw, but no guarantee of getting the apartment.
- Does it help to call GWG or send a cover letter?
No. GWG writes that calling, dropping by or well-written texts bring no advantage. Households that give false information or register more than once for the same viewing are excluded from the draw.
- Are dogs or cats allowed at GWG?
For cats, the listing concerned states whether they are welcome; according to GWG, they are not allowed in some cases. We did not find a rule on dogs on gwg.ch.
- Can I set up a flat share (WG) at GWG?
Yes. GWG concludes a separate rental contract with each person living in the flat share. This is meant to make changes in the flat share easy.
- When do I find out whether I was drawn?
A computer program makes the draw no later than two working days after the registration deadline. You then receive an email with an acceptance or a rejection. GWG advises checking your spam folder too.
New-build projects
3 projects planned or under construction
133 apartments by three cooperatives (Talgut, Gaiwo, GWG) on the former bus depot; according to gwg.ch, GWG is building 44 small apartments of these (in the fact sheet: 40). According to the project website, letting begins about a year before move-in, so in 2028 at the earliest.
Source: depot-deutweg.ch, checked 5 Oct 202613 terraced houses with 4.5 and 5.5 rooms on land held under a building lease (Baurecht) from the municipality of Wiesendangen. GWG has not yet given a date for letting.
Source: gwg.ch, Gundetswil building project, checked 5 Oct 2026Around 180 apartments with a large share of small apartments, a few minutes' walk from Uster station. The architecture competition runs until December 2026; according to GWG, the earliest possible move-in is 2031.
Source: gwg.ch, Zeughausareal West building project, checked 5 Oct 2026