Find a cooperative apartment in Zurich today.
Together with Albisrieden, the Altstetten district forms district 9 of the city of Zurich. It is a very culturally diverse district that is growing. In fact, over 3,500 apartments have been built here in the last ten years, 21% of which are owned by housing associations. Which cooperatives own properties in Altstetten? And how do you get a (cheap) apartment there? This blog post explains it to you!
Allgemeine Baugenossenschaft Zürich
This is Zurich's largest cooperative with over 5,000 apartments. Accordingly, ABZ is of course also present in Altstetten with three settlements. An der Bristenstraße Near Altstetten train station, there is a property with 27 inexpensive small apartments (1 and 2-room apartments) and a distinctive graffito from the artist collective One Truth in the entrance area. The settlement is very close by Glorious with 217 apartments (2 to 5-room apartments). The settlement is not densely built and has quite a reserve of exploitation. A new replacement building is therefore planned, meaning that the apartments will only be rented out for a limited period of time. The third ABZ settlement in Altstetten is located on Lommisweg. The distinctive building made of exposed brick is also called the “brick castle” by the ABZ itself. Large lettering indicates that it is an ABZ building. The settlement comprises 76 units (2 to 6-room apartments) and also houses a medical practice.
In total, ABZ in Altstetten rents out over 300 apartments. Unfortunately, however, not very often does something become free. Despite the considerable number of apartments, ABZ unfortunately only very rarely advertises publicly. So far, we have not been able to identify any really clear reasons for this fact. One reason could be that children who grow up in ABZ can also apply for membership. One thing is certain: If something becomes available, you can find all the information on the ABZ website. There is also a Free newsletter, which draws attention to vacant apartments. In our Suchabo Of course, we will also send you links to the ABZ apartments.
Baugenossenschaft Alpenblick
This smaller cooperative has five construction stages in Altstetten with a total of 96 apartments with 2 to 5.5 rooms on Eugen-Huber-Straße (where you also have the WSGZ finds) and Feldblumenstraße. The oldest apartments date from the 1940s, the latest construction phase was completed in 2020. The cooperative offers attractive affordable living space for families, with some of the apartments being generously sized (e.g. the Alpenblick building cooperative rents out 4.5-room apartments of over 130m2.) It takes a lot of patience and luck to get an apartment here, because the cooperative runs a waiting list. You can sign up here and then hope that the cooperative will contact you. If you haven't heard anything after a year and are still interested, you'll need to renew your entry.
Baugenossenschaft Frohes Wohnen Zürich
This medium-sized cooperative was originally founded on the initiative of federal employees. It now owns over 500 apartments, including 100 in a distinctive Hochhaus am Grünauring in Altstetten. The building comprises 2.5 — 5.5 room apartments and is located right next to the Grünau schoolhouse. In addition, the Frohes Wohnen building cooperative owns part of the Tüffenwies settlement (see Sunnige Hof). The Frohes Wohnen building cooperative allegedly writes their vacant apartments on their website off. Of course, we are constantly monitoring them. Unfortunately, not a single apartment was advertised on the website last year. If something is advertised, we will definitely send the link to our subscribers.
Baugenossenschaft Frohheim
The Frohheim building cooperative (BGF) owns the settlement in Altstetten, which is very popular with families Suteracher with 331 apartments (1 - 5.5 rooms), which are spread over several staggered rows of houses and three high-rise buildings. BGF advertises its apartments on its website and at the same time on real estate portals. We will of course monitor them and send links to all vacant apartments in our search subscription. There is always something vacant: in 2024, there were 32 apartments. It is therefore entirely possible to find what you are looking for at BGF.
Building cooperative for modern housing
This cooperative owns three settlements in the city of Zurich, including Zwischenbächen settlement is located in a quiet location not far from the Altstetter Forest. The settlement is currently being renovated and we expect the second-stage apartments to be rented out next year. This will probably happen via Flatfox. We are watching that project and will make every effort to inform our subscribers in good time about the start of the rental period.
By the way: According to the company's own information, most apartments are rented out internally by the building cooperative for modern living (BGNZWO). We're not sure what that means exactly. Are family members and friends of the cooperative members treated preferentially? It would be nice if this could be communicated more precisely. One thing is certain: If an apartment is not rented out internally, the building cooperative will advertise for modern living on Flatfox at 3:30pm. And then it's time to be quick, because after 10-15 inquiries, the ad goes offline again.
Baugenossenschaft Halde Zürich
This cooperative is based in Altstetten and rents out a total of 777 here. The high-rise buildings on Ernst-Zöbeli-Straße with a total of 112 apartments (1.5 — 4.5 rooms) You can probably enjoy a great view from the upper floors of the high-rise buildings. Other properties are in the immediate vicinity, including a property not far from the indoor swimming pool. In order to BHZ Unfortunately, it takes a lot of luck and patience to get hold of an apartment. The cooperative advertises vacant apartments on Homegate, where the apartments appear for a short period of time without notice.
Baugenossenschaft Sonnengarten
This cooperative, which is otherwise located near Triemli, owns a House with 21 apartments (1 - 3 rooms) on Altstetterstraße, which was built in 1968 and renovated in 1996. According to the website of the Sonnengarten building cooperative, there are now mixed residents and families living in the house. The popular Lindenplatz is close by and Altstetten train station is around 10 minutes away on foot.
The Sonnengarten building cooperative advertises vacant apartments on its website. There is something available about every two weeks (21 apartments have been advertised on the website in the last 365 days), but if you check the website daily, you won't miss an ad. If this is too difficult for you, you can use our Suchabo use. We closely monitor the Sonnengarten Baugenossenschaft website and send all vacant apartments to our subscribers.
Eisenbahner Genossenschaft Zürich Altstetten
Originally founded as the Saumacker building cooperative, the Zurich Altstetten Eisenbahner-Baugenossenschaft (EBA) today owns a total of 273 apartments in Altstetten. From smaller 2.5-room apartments for individuals to larger 5.5-room apartments for families, everything is included. The cost rent applies and therefore the rental prices are very low. As a result, the apartments are very popular. The EBA has a waiting list, which you join here can register. Attention: The entry is only valid for four months. If you didn't hear anything, you weren't successful and must apply again. So that you can assess your chances of getting an apartment, we have selected the 2024 figures from the annual report for you: In 2024, 10 new tenants were able to move in with the EBA. This means that around one apartment is vacant every month. With “only” 273 apartments, this is actually not bad.
A small detail about the EBA: At the General Assembly, people who have been members for a long time (25, 30, 40 years!) , honored. This shows how much people live in this cooperative community: They know each other personally and celebrate such pleasant milestones together.
Limmattal Charitable Building Cooperative
The Limmattal Charitable Building Cooperative (GBL) has been around for almost 100 years. As a result of a lot of construction activity and two mergers, it has become a very large institution with a total of over 1,500 apartments. In fact, the biggest construction phase of GBL is located in Altstetten. With 192 residential units (1.5 - 4.5 rooms), the settlement offers Thalbächli Living space for young and old. Fortunately, GBL regularly vacates apartments. According to the GBL itself, there are around 80 tenant changes per year. According to our data, four GBL apartments in Altstetten were publicly advertised last year (these were 1.5 - 3.5 room apartments). GBL offers a Free newsletter for vacant apartments, which you can subscribe to here. Of course, we also send out all ads in our search subscription. Last year, by the way, we also talked extensively about Langgrüt new construction project informed. We are pleased that some of our former subscribers have been awarded an apartment there. If you are interested in such new construction projects, we recommend our list as well as our Suchabo. We send a lot of details about the cooperations' construction projects to our subscribers.
Röntgenhof Zurich Non-Profit Building Cooperative
With around 20 settlements in and around Zurich, the non-profit building cooperative Röntgenhof Zürich (GBRZ) is one of the major players in the region. In Altstetten, the GBRZ has a Siedlung an der Hohl- und Freihofstraße with 173 apartments (2 - 5.5 rooms). The distinctive buildings made of visible brick in the lively Letzi district are very well connected to public transport and are close to shopping facilities and restaurants. The great apartments of the GBRZ are of course very popular. It takes a lot of patience and luck to get hold of one of them. The GBRZ has a waiting list, which you can join here can register. Please read the instructions carefully and note that the entry must be renewed after 6 months. By the way: The GBRZ is currently building one in Tagelswangen New replacement building. If certain apartments are advertised directly on the website (this was the case recently with the new building in Rümlang), we will immediately inform our subscribers.
Just for information: The GBRZ owns a total of over 1,800 apartments. In 2024, around 80 apartments were rented out to external persons, compared to a similar number in 2023 and 2022. The chances of getting an apartment are therefore absolutely intact and we very much welcome the fact that quite a few apartments are being rented out to external persons. Keep it up!
Zurich Non-Profit Building and Tenant Cooperative
This cooperative with over 1000 apartments in the city of Zurich owns in Altstetten the Suteracher retirement settlement with 19 apartments, which are specifically designed to meet the needs of older people. Unfortunately, it is not possible to register with the GBMZ at the moment. Unfortunately, there is no reason for this on the website. With over 1000 apartments, there should actually be something vacant on a regular basis. If the situation changes and the waiting list is opened, we will inform you about this on our website and by e-mail.
Genossenschaft zum Korn
This cooperative is based in various regions: It rents out apartments not only in Zurich but also in St. Gallen and Lucerne. In Altstetten, you will find apartments owned by the Kooperative zum Korn am Dachslernrain. The settlement comprises both apartments (3 — 4 rooms) and single-family houses (4 rooms). The latter are, of course, particularly sought after. The Genossenschaft zum Korn advertises on their website, which we are of course monitoring.
GEWOBAG
This large cooperative with over 2000 apartments is of course also represented in Altstetten. Two of their developments are located here, namely the child-friendly Grünau settlement with 125 apartments (1 — 5.5 rooms) and the Malojaweg settlement with spacious family apartments (108 apartments with 2.5 — 5.5 rooms). In total, GEWOBAG in Altstetten owns over 130 units. Vacant GEWOBAG apartments are advertised on Homegate, namely here. Something is freed up very regularly. Of course, we also send all ads as part of our search subscription. By the way: GEWOBAG does not necessarily rent out its new construction projects through Homegate. Our search subscription is therefore useful here, as we monitor the projects and inform our subscribers about the start of rental and send a link to the rental portal. So if you don't want to miss out on these more 'hidden' apartments, it's best to use our Suchabo. A few months ago, we provided information about the projects on Langgrütweg in Albisrieden and in Wettswil am Albis. Both could not be found on Homegate, but were rented out directly via the GEWOBAG website.
Habitat8000
Habitat8000 is a non-profit joint stock company founded in 1990 by 20 Zurich building cooperatives together with the Swiss Housing Cooperatives Association and the City of Zurich. Today, it manages over 1,300 apartments and owns a settlement in Altstetten with 31 small apartments on the Bachmattstraße. The settlement is currently being comprehensively renovated, with all residents having to move out. The new move is planned for spring 2026 and it is unclear whether apartments will then also be rented out to external persons. If this is the case, we will of course inform our subscribers. Basically, Habitat8000 advertises on Homegate. There is always something available (there were 15 apartments in Zurich last year), so check back regularly or subscribe to our search subscription.
PWG
This is not a cooperative but a foundation, but we are very happy to mention it because it offers affordable housing in Zurich. With 200 properties with over 2,200 apartments, PWG is an important institution when it comes to affordable housing in Zurich. You'll find the real estate spread across the entire city — including in Altstetten, of course, where the PWG is extremely present. Here she rents out over 300 apartments! PWG advertises on its website and this is extremely regular. A new apartment is advertised here almost every other day. This means that in Zurich, apart from the city itself, there is (urban apartments) Nowhere as many ads for affordable housing as with PWG. Even when it comes to the number of apartments, PWG is one of the leaders when it comes to the number of listings: Around 160 - 180 apartments are vacant every year, which accounts for around 8% of the housing stock. By way of comparison, the figure for most cooperatives is less than 3%.
If you're looking for an affordable apartment in Zurich, you should definitely visit PWG regularly. Or subscribe to our search subscription, because we send all the links via email.
Siedlungsgenossenschaft Sunnige Hof
This cooperative with 15 settlements is located in Altstetten in the settlement Tüffenwies, which was created together with other cooperatives, is present. Within the long buildings, you will find a beautiful park that invites you to relax. According to the cooperative's website, many people have been living in the settlement for more than 20 years, which is definitely a sign of quality. The Sunnige Hof settlement cooperative advertises its vacant apartments on its website and sometimes on Homegate. Of course, we send all ads in our search subscription. There is always something vacant: There were over 60 apartments last year! It is therefore worthwhile to check the website regularly or subscribe to our search subscription, because the chances of finding an apartment here are absolutely intact.
Wohn- und Siedlungsgenossenschaft Zürich
The Zurich Housing and Settlement Cooperative (WSGZ) has a total of 1,113 apartments in 15 municipalities at 30 locations, including in Altstetten on Eugen-Huber-Strasse. Here you will find a modern settlement in a quiet location behind Lindenplatz with six apartment buildings with a total of 39 apartments (1.5 — 5 rooms). The WSGZ advertises its vacant apartments on its website. However, this only happens very rarely. By the way: There is currently a WSGZ replacement building under construction. If you are interested in the project, you can
Add it to the list of interested parties.
Conclusion: The chances of a cooperative apartment in Altstetten are not bad
The number of cooperative apartments in Altstetten is in the four-digit range. The chances of affordable housing in this neighborhood are therefore absolutely intact. You probably have the greatest chances of success with PWG, but the chances are also quite good with the GBRZ, the GBL or the Sunnige Hof settlement cooperative. Be sure to sign up for all waiting lists and make sure you don't miss out on any great new construction project. For this, we of course recommend our Suchabo, which informs you about all rental starts with cooperatives in and around Zurich.
ABW
Sunnige Hof
GEWOBAG
PWG