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Wogeno: apartments and membership
Wogeno advertises available apartments to its members by email. This is how you become a member, and how allocation works.
Advertised to members in principle. Our search subscription does not include the internal Wogeno listings.
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Applying to Wogeno
- As a non-member
- only in exceptional cases
- Membership
- yes: CHF 3’000 and a 3-month waiting period; plus CHF 10’000–50’000 for the apartment
- Minimum occupancy
- as a rule number of rooms minus 2
- Income and assets
- no fixed limits found, but an allocation criterion
- Waiting list
- none, length of membership counts
- Become a memberFill in the online registration form and pay in the CHF 3’000 share. A three-month waiting period applies from the payment; only after that can you apply.
- Get the announcement by emailWogeno advertises available apartments by email to all members. Through the link you register for the viewing and answer the questions on the allocation criteria.
- View and confirm your interestThe 60 to 70 people with the highest scores are invited. After the viewing you let Wogeno know by email that you are still interested.
- Allocation meeting with the Hausverein8 to 12 applicants are invited. The Hausverein decides at the meeting who moves in.
Required documents: Letter of motivation; Latest final tax bill; Current debt-collection register extract.
Eligibility and allocation
Cooperative of self-managed houses with 595 apartments in 81 properties, most of them in the City of Zurich.
The five answers in full
- Can I apply as a non-member?
Only in exceptional cases: if no Wogeno member has applied within the deadline. Otherwise only as a member, after a three-month waiting period (Karenzfrist).
- Do I have to become a member, and what does it cost?
Yes. The membership share costs CHF 3’000, interest-free, refunded when you leave. For an apartment, CHF 10’000 to 50’000 in apartment shares are added, depending on the apartment.
- Is there a minimum occupancy?
Yes. As a rule number of rooms minus two; for particularly large or small apartments, by floor area. The figure given for each apartment is binding.
- Are there income or asset limits?
We did not find fixed limits at Wogeno. Personal financial circumstances are one of five equally weighted allocation criteria and are asked about.
- Is there a waiting list?
No. Wogeno keeps no waiting list. However, the length of membership is one of the five allocation criteria.
Allocation rules and sources
- Membership and waiting period
A waiting period (Karenzfrist) applies to members: you can apply if you were already a member at least three months before the apartment was advertised.
«Bewerben können sich allerdings nur Wogeno-Mitglieder, die schon seit mindestens drei Monaten vor der Ausschreibung Mitglied geworden sind.»
Source: wogeno-zuerich.ch, Freie Wohnungen und Objekte, checked 5 Oct 2026 - Advertised by email
Available apartments and commercial spaces are advertised to members by email. According to Wogeno, there are currently one to two such announcements per month.
«Werden Wohnungen, Ladenlokale oder andere Räumlichkeiten frei, so werden diese zur Neuvermietung per E-Mail bei den Mitgliedern ausgeschrieben.»
Source: wogeno-zuerich.ch, Freie Wohnungen und Objekte, checked 5 Oct 2026 - Membership share CHF 3’000
You become a member with a share of CHF 3’000. The amount bears no interest and is refunded when you leave; after less than two years of membership, Wogeno charges a CHF 100 handling fee, according to the website.
«Wer Mitglied werden will, erwirbt einen Anteilschein in der Höhe von CHF 3 000. Dieser Betrag ist zinsfrei und wird beim Austritt aus der Genossenschaft zurückerstattet.»
Source: wogeno-zuerich.ch, Wie werde ich Mitglied?, checked 5 Oct 2026 - House association and board allocate
The apartment is allocated by mutual agreement between the Hausverein (house association) and the board, according to five equally weighted criteria.
«Die Wohnungsvergabe erfolgt im gegenseitigen Einverständnis zwischen Hausverein und Genossenschaftsvorstand nach folgenden gleichwertigen Kriterien: Dauer der Mitgliedschaft, Dringlichkeit des Wohnungswechsels, persönliche finanzielle Verhältnisse, Anzahl Personen, Integrierfähigkeit in die bestehende Hausgemeinschaft.»
Source: wogeno-zuerich.ch, Freie Wohnungen und Objekte, checked 5 Oct 2026 - Shortlisting by points
Since May 2025, allocation has been supported by the emonitor software. The 60 to 70 people with the highest scores are invited to the viewing, and 8 to 12 applicants to the allocation meeting; there the Hausverein decides who moves in.
«Für die Wohnungsbesichtigungen werden 60 bis 70 Personen mit der höchsten Punktzahl ausgewählt.»
Source: wogeno-zuerich.ch, Wohnungsvergabe, checked 5 Oct 2026 - Financial circumstances as a criterion
We did not find fixed income limits at Wogeno. Financial circumstances are already asked about when you register for the viewing and count as one of the allocation criteria.
«Vier Kriterien (Anzahl Personen, persönliche finanzielle Verhältnisse, Dauer der Mitgliedschaft, Dringlichkeit des Wohnungswechsels) werden so frühzeitig geprüft und bereits bei der Anmeldung zur Besichtigung abgefragt.»
Source: wogeno-zuerich.ch, Wohnungsvergabe, checked 5 Oct 2026 - Minimum occupancy
In principle, number of rooms minus two is the minimum number of people. For particularly large or small apartments, the floor area counts.
«Im Prinzip «Anzahl Zimmer minus zwei = Mindest-Anzahl Personen», aber bei besonders grossen bzw. kleinen Wohnungen: bis 70m² eine Person, 71-95m² zwei Personen, 96-130m² drei Personen, >130m² vier Personen.»
Source: wogeno-zuerich.ch, FAQ Mitgliedschaft, checked 5 Oct 2026 - No waiting list
Wogeno keeps no waiting list. After the three-month waiting period you can apply for advertised apartments.
«Wir führen keine Warteliste. Frei werdende Wohnungen werden unter den Mitgliedern ausgeschrieben.»
Source: wogeno-zuerich.ch, FAQ Wohnung finden, checked 5 Oct 2026 - Apartment shares
Anyone who gets an apartment additionally subscribes apartment shares (Wohnungsanteilscheine). The amount depends on the size and condition of the apartment.
«Je nach Grösse und Zustand der Wohnung zwischen CHF 10 000 und 50 000; in den meisten Fällen zwischen CHF 15 000 und 30 000.»
Source: wogeno-zuerich.ch, FAQ Wohnung finden, checked 5 Oct 2026 - Non-members only in exceptional cases
Wogeno accepts applications from non-members only if no member has applied within the deadline.
«Bewerbungen von Nichtmitgliedern werden nur in Ausnahmefällen angenommen, nämlich dann, wenn sich innerhalb der gesetzten Frist kein Wogeno-Mitglied beworben hat.»
Source: wogeno-zuerich.ch, Freie Wohnungen und Objekte, checked 5 Oct 2026
Frequently asked questions
- Is Wogeno still accepting new members?
Yes. According to the Statuten (articles of association), the number of members is unlimited, and Wogeno describes its membership as large and open. At the end of 2024 Wogeno had 6’653 members; fewer than a fifth of them live in a Wogeno apartment.
- For a couple or a shared apartment, does everyone have to be a member?
For the application, it is enough if one person is a member. Only once you actually get an apartment do all adults have to become members.
- Does Wogeno ever advertise apartments publicly?
Only as a last step. Under the rules on apartment allocation (board resolution of 21.8.2024), an apartment is advertised publicly if neither members nor members in the waiting period apply. Anyone who gets a tenancy agreement this way must become a member.
- Can I receive announcements for one particular quarter only?
No. According to Wogeno, for administrative reasons the only choice is to receive all announcements or none.
- What does self-managed mean at Wogeno?
The residents of a house form a house community, which is organised as an association. Wogeno hands the properties over to the house communities to manage largely by themselves; the house community decides on pets, for example.
New-build projects
2 projects planned or under construction
Wogeno and the Stiftung Familienwohnungen are jointly planning around 160 apartments with 1.5 to 6.5 rooms; construction is expected to start in 2031. Nothing is known yet about letting: Wogeno keeps no waiting list and informs members and newsletter subscribers about the project.
Source: wogeno-zuerich.ch, Baurecht Thurgauerstrasse, checked 5 Oct 2026The house is being renovated and extended, from eight to eleven apartments with 2.5 to 5.5 rooms; construction starts in 2027. Wogeno does not yet say how the apartments will be allocated.
Source: wogeno-zuerich.ch, Wettbewerbsprojekt Riedenhaldenstrasse 50, checked 5 Oct 2026