Cooperatives › Städtische Wohnungen
City-owned apartments in Zurich
412 listings in the last 12 months. New listings are published on Friday afternoon; registration runs until the following Friday at 12 noon. A random selection determines who is invited to a viewing.
We notify you immediately about new city-owned apartments and listings from over 100 cooperatives in the Canton of Zurich. CHF 5 / month · cancel anytime.
Applying to the City of Zurich
- Who
- Residence in Zurich from the start of the tenancy (exception: education); subsidised also 2 years in the canton
- Costs
- no membership; deposit: no information found
- Minimum occupancy
- whole rooms minus 1
- Income and assets
- yes, depending on the type of apartment
- Waiting list
- no waiting list
- Get the listingWith the search subscription you get every new listing for city-owned apartments immediately by email, with a link to E-Vermietung. That is where the City publishes its listings. For this you need a «Mein Konto» account with the City of Zurich with the «E-Vermietung» service.
- Register for the viewingOpen the apartment in E-Vermietung and register. You state the household type, the number of adults and children, and any pets. The system then draws by lot who may view. You get the decision by email.
- View and applyYou can only view at the stated time; sending someone in your place is allowed. On the next working day the link to the application arrives by email.
- Respond to the offerAccording to the City, the check usually takes 2 to 3 weeks. If you receive an offer, you must accept or decline it in E-Vermietung within the deadline.
Required documents: ID card or passport; Debt-collection register extract (no older than 6 months); Latest final tax bill (definitive Steuerschlussrechnung; not the tax return); If taxed at source: certificate of the tax deducted at source; Without a tax bill or source-tax statement: latest salary certificate (1 year); Less than 1 year in Switzerland: last 3 payslips; If supported by the social welfare office: confirmation that you receive social assistance.
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
- SpeedNew listings are published on Friday afternoon. Registration runs until the following Friday at 12 noon.
- TimingWe found new listings most often on Friday, mostly between 11:00 and 16:00.
- Rent3-room listings we found: median CHF 1’238 per month (235 listings).
- LocationMost listings were in Aussersihl (8004), Affoltern (8046) and Wiedikon (8003).
From the listings we found; not a complete overview. Offline does not mean let.
Available apartments are on the E-Vermietung platform and also appear every Wednesday in the Tagblatt der Stadt Zürich. A random selection decides who may view. The selection is final. Source
All numbers and charts
When we found new listings
Rents by number of rooms
Listings by size
| Size | Städtische Wohnungen | All providers | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 rooms | 30 | 216 | CHF 866 |
| 1.5 rooms | 31 | 144 | CHF 900 |
| 2 rooms | 69 | 331 | CHF 1’218 |
| 2.5 rooms | 53 | 415 | CHF 1’285 |
| 3 rooms | 235 | 623 | CHF 1’238 |
| 3.5 rooms | 83 | 605 | CHF 1’471 |
| 4 rooms | 96 | 330 | CHF 1’478 |
| 4.5 rooms | 98 | 490 | CHF 1’614 |
| 5 rooms | 17 | 43 | CHF 2’184 |
| 5.5 rooms | 40 | 118 | CHF 2’071 |
| 6 rooms | 2 | 7 | – |
| 6.5 rooms | 9 | 20 | CHF 2’400 |
Places
Listings per month
The most recent listings
- 1 rooms · 39 m² · CHF 1’054Breitensteinstr.15, Wipkingen · 30 Sep 2026
- 5.5 rooms · 120 m² · CHF 1’446Rautistrasse, Altstetten · 30 Sep 2026
- 4.5 rooms · 108 m² · CHF 1’590Stiglenstrasse, Seebach · 30 Sep 2026
- 3 rooms · 66 m² · CHF 1’205Fronwaldstrasse, Affoltern · 30 Sep 2026
- 3 rooms · 61 m² · CHF 1’122Trottenstrasse, Wipkingen · 30 Sep 2026
763 listings from the last 24 months, 1082 since 5 Jan 2024. 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
Liegenschaften Stadt Zürich (LSZ) lets around 10’000 apartments owned by the City of Zurich according to the principles of non-profit housing. The City is not a cooperative: there is no membership.
The five answers in full
- Who can apply for a city-owned apartment?
From the start of the tenancy you need to be resident in the City of Zurich, unless you are in education and registered as a weekly resident (Wochenaufenthalter). Subsidised apartments also require at least 2 years' residence in the Canton of Zurich.
- What does moving in cost: deposit, fees, share capital?
The City is not a cooperative; you do not become a member. We did not find in the official sources whether it requires a rent deposit or fees.
- Is there a minimum occupancy?
Yes. Number of rooms minus one. At least 3 people must live in a 4.5-room apartment.
- Are there income or asset limits?
Yes. Non-subsidised (freitragend): relevant (taxable) income at the start of the tenancy at most four times the gross annual rent. Subsidised: fixed income limits and at most CHF 200’000 in assets.
- Is there a waiting list?
No. The City does not keep waiting lists. Available apartments are advertised individually.
Allocation rules and sources
- Viewings are drawn by lot
The viewing places are drawn by lot. Only those who have viewed the apartment can apply afterwards.
«Die Besichtigungen werden ausgelost. Nur wenn Sie eine Wohnung besichtigt haben, können Sie sich bewerben.»
Source: stadt-zuerich.ch, Ablauf bei Vermietungen, checked 5 Oct 2026 - Friday to Friday noon
According to a leaflet from the City, available apartments are advertised on the website from Friday afternoon, and on Wednesdays in the Tagblatt. You can register online until the following Friday at 12 noon.
«Die freien Wohnungen werden jeweils ab Freitagnachmittag auf der Webseite der Stadt Zürich (Städtische Wohnungen in der Vermietung | Stadt Zürich ) und mittwochs im Tagblatt der Stadt Zürich ausgeschrieben. Bewerben kann man sich online jeweils bis zum darauffolgenden Freitagmittag, 12 Uhr.»
Source: stadt-zuerich.ch, leaflet «6 Schritte für die Wohnungssuche», version 04/2026 (PDF), checked 5 Oct 2026 - Selection by six criteria
After the viewing, the City does not select by lot. It assesses the applications by six criteria, including social mix, priority for households with minor children, and urgency.
«Ihre Vergabe richtet sich nach folgenden Zuschlagskriterien: a. Sozial vielseitig zusammengesetzte Bewohnerschaft (soziale Durchmischung), namentlich in Wohnsiedlungen; b. Vorrang von Personen, die mit minderjährigen Kindern zusammen wohnen; c. Dringlichkeit des Wohnungsbedarfs; d. Berücksichtigung von Personen oder Personengruppen, die auf dem Wohnungsmarkt benachteiligt sind; e. Pflege von Angehörigen und Betreuung eigener Kinder, die bereits im Quartier wohnen; f. Eignung der Wohnung in Bezug auf die Bedürfnisse der Bewerbenden.»
Source: Amtliche Sammlung 846.101, Mietreglement (PDF), Art. 25 para. 2, checked 5 Oct 2026 - Residence in the city
You must register your residence in Zurich at the latest from the start of the tenancy. You may not use the apartment as a second home. Anyone in education can register as a weekly resident (Wochenaufenthalter) for at most 6 years.
«Städtische Wohnungen darf man nicht als Zweit-Wohnsitz nutzen. Mietende müssen spätestens zum Miet-Beginn ihren Wohnsitz in Zürich anmelden. Eine Ausnahme gibt es für Personen in Ausbildung. Sie können sich als Wochen-Aufenthalter*in anmelden. Diese Ausnahme gilt höchstens 6 Jahre.»
Source: stadt-zuerich.ch, Mietbedingungen, checked 5 Oct 2026 - Minimum occupancy: rooms minus one
The number of rooms minus one gives the minimum number of people. At least 3 people must live in a 4.5-room apartment.
«Die Mindest-Belegung bedeutet: Zimmer-Anzahl minus 1 ergibt die Mindest-Personenanzahl. In einer 4,5-Zimmer-Wohnung müssen also mindestens 3 Personen wohnen.»
Source: stadt-zuerich.ch, Ablauf bei Vermietungen, checked 5 Oct 2026 - Non-subsidised: four times the rent
For non-subsidised (freitragend) apartments, the relevant income of all people in the household at the start of the tenancy may be at most four times the gross rent for one year.
«Beim Beginn der Miete darf das Einkommen aller Personen im Haushalt höchstens viermal so hoch sein wie der Brutto-Jahresmietzins.»
Source: stadt-zuerich.ch, Mietbedingungen, checked 5 Oct 2026 - Assets count towards income
For non-subsidised (freitragend) apartments, income means taxable income. Added to this is one tenth of the taxable assets above CHF 200’000.
«Das massgebende Einkommen ist das steuerbare Einkommen plus ein Zehntel des steuerbaren Vermögens über 200 000 Franken.»
Source: stadt-zuerich.ch, Mietbedingungen, checked 5 Oct 2026 - During the tenancy: six times
During an ongoing tenancy, the ratio only counts as breached if the relevant income is above CHF 70’000 and at the same time is more than six times the gross rent.
«Das angemessene Verhältnis gilt im laufenden Mietverhältnis als verletzt, wenn das massgebende Einkommen gemäss Art. 10 über 70 000 Franken liegt und gleichzeitig das Sechsfache des Bruttomietzinses übersteigt.»
Source: Amtliche Sammlung 846.101, Mietreglement (PDF), Art. 13 para. 2, checked 5 Oct 2026 - Subsidised: 2 years in the canton
For a subsidised apartment you must have lived in the Canton of Zurich for at least 2 years before the start of the tenancy. Time as a weekly resident (Wochenaufenthalter) does not count.
«Wenn Sie eine subventionierte Wohnung mieten möchten, müssen Sie mindestens 2 Jahre vor Miet-Beginn im Kanton Zürich wohnen. Die Zeit als Wochen-Aufenthalter*in zählt nicht.»
Source: stadt-zuerich.ch, Mietbedingungen, checked 5 Oct 2026 - Subsidised: assets up to CHF 200’000
For subsidised apartments, the taxable assets of all people in the household together may be at most CHF 200’000. The same page gives separate maximum figures for taxable income.
«Das steuerbare Vermögen aller Personen im Haushalt darf zusammengezählt nicht mehr als 200 000 Franken sein.»
Source: stadt-zuerich.ch, Mietbedingungen, checked 5 Oct 2026 - No waiting list
The City does not keep waiting lists.
«Die Stadt Zürich führt keine Wartelisten.»
Source: stadt-zuerich.ch, Mietbedingungen, questions and answers, checked 5 Oct 2026
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between non-subsidised (freitragend) and subsidised apartments?
Non-subsidised apartments are let at cost rent (Kostenmiete). For subsidised apartments, the canton or the City pays part of the costs. In return, additional rules on income, assets, residence and residence status apply.
- Can I apply for a family apartment without children?
No. Family apartments are marked in the listing. You can only rent them if children live with you.
- Do I have to move out if I earn more later?
Below CHF 70’000 of relevant income, the limit is never breached according to the City. Above that, income may not be more than six times the annual rent including ancillary costs. According to the Mietreglement, the City can only require a change of apartment once more than 15 per cent of the apartments exceed this limit.
- What happens if my apartment is under-occupied?
Under-occupancy is allowed for at most 1 year, or 2 years after a death in the household. After that you must change apartment. Where possible, the City makes two replacement offers.
- How do I find out about new city-owned estates?
The City gives information about first lettings in the Ligi-Newsletter. New-build apartments are also let through E-Vermietung.
New-build projects
3 projects planned or under construction
230 apartments with 1 to 8 rooms in Altstetten, construction period 2025–2028. The City advertises them on its website about half a year before move-in. The date is open.
Source: stadt-zuerich.ch, Ersatzneubau Wohnsiedlung Salzweg, checked 5 Oct 2026367 planned apartments in Witikon, around a third of them subsidised. The vote on the construction costs is in June 2027. If the vote is yes, the first residents can move in in 2031. Around 50 small apartments are managed by the Stiftung Alterswohnungen.
Source: stadt-zuerich.ch, Neubau Wohnsiedlung Harsplen, checked 5 Oct 2026The estate with 72 apartments is being replaced in stages by new buildings with 90 apartments, construction period 2026–2030. The City does not yet give a date for letting.
Source: stadt-zuerich.ch, Ersatzneubau Wohnsiedlung Luchswiese, checked 5 Oct 2026