Allgemeine Baugenossenschaft Zürich

Name

Allgemeine Baugenossenschaft Zürich

Legal name

Allgemeine Baugenossenschaft Zürich

Website

https://abz.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1916

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Housing Cooperative

NAICS

Residential Property Managers (531311)

SIC

Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate & Executive Short-Term Housing Management (BPAJAIAH)

Keywords

• Affordable housing cooperative
• Non-profit residential rental
• Cost-rent apartments
• Cooperative housing management
• Subsidized housing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Rental Income (Cost-Rent Model): ABZ operates as a non-profit housing cooperative. All apartments are rented at cost-rent (Kostenmiete), meaning rents cover exactly the financing and operating costs of the properties — no profit is generated. As of 2024, total rental income was CHF 74 million. The cost-rent model is regulated by the City of Zurich's Mietzinsreglement and is subject to annual review.
2. ABZ Depositenkasse (Deposit Fund): ABZ operates an internal deposit fund (Depositenkasse) for its members. Nearly CHF 200 million is held in approximately 4,500 deposit accounts. The fund finances new construction, renovations, and maintenance of settlements. Members receive interest on deposits; ABZ uses the capital for its core mission.
3. Sustainability Bond Issuance: ABZ issues sustainability bonds traded on the Swiss stock exchange. The bonds follow the ICMA Sustainability Bond Guidelines. Proceeds are used exclusively for sustainable investments. This direct capital market instrument supplements mortgages and the deposits fund for project financing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ABZ is a non-profit housing cooperative that rents 5,136 apartments to approximately 9,148 members across Zurich and Winterthur at cost-rent (Kostenmiete) prices mandated by the City of Zurich. The cooperative develops new housing projects, acquires existing settlements, and provides member services including the WINK digital resident portal and the Depositenkasse deposit fund. All rental income (CHF 74 million in 2024) covers only actual financing and operating costs with no profit extraction.

Product overview

Allgemeine Baugenossenschaft Zürich (ABZ) operates as a non-profit housing cooperative offering affordable rental housing through a cost-rent model (Kostenmiete). Their core offering is housing access through 5,136 apartments across multiple settlements in and around Zurich. The primary digital service is WINK, an internal resident platform enabling tenants to submit repair requests, make reservations, and access community information. ABZ also provides a Depositenkasse savings service for members. As a housing cooperative, ABZ does not offer a technology product to external customers—their 'products' are housing units and resident services, not software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WINK: Digital portal and virtual meeting place for ABZ residents, providing services like repair requests, guest room reservations, and community engagement
• ABZforum
• ABZ-Dialog

Products and services

• Affordable Rental Housing (Cost-Rent Apartments) Non-profit affordable rental housing under the cost-rent model (Kostenmiete) where rental income covers only the actual financing and operating costs. ABZ manages 5,136 apartments housing approximately 9,148 members across Zurich and Winterthur as of end-2024. Rents are significantly below market rates and include both standard and subsidized apartments for lower-income households.
• WINK Digital Resident Platform WINK is ABZ's proprietary digital platform serving as a resident portal and virtual meeting place for ABZ members. It enables residents to submit repair requests, book community spaces and guest rooms, access ABZ documents, and engage in community interactions. Available via web browser and mobile applications on iOS App Store and Google Play.
• ABZ Depositenkasse (Member Deposit Fund) ABZ's internal deposit fund (Depositenkasse) for its members, holding nearly CHF 200 million across approximately 4,500 deposit accounts. Members receive interest rates higher than typical bank savings accounts, with ABZ guaranteeing the funds through its real estate holdings. The fund finances new construction, renovations, and maintenance of settlements.
• Settlement Community Space Rentals ABZ's many community rooms (Gemeinschaftsräume) across settlements can be rented by residents and, in some cases, external parties. Used for community events, gatherings, and resident activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of residents surveyed in 2024 are very satisfied living in ABZ; 83% very satisfied with their apartment; 80% with their building and surroundings.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TemiscoreOthers · 1 January 2024Since July 1, 2024, ABZ partners with Temis as an independent ombudsman service for rental questions. This is a two-year trial phase. Temis provides neutral conflict resolution for ABZ members on matters relating to the tenancy regulations, such as disputes over apartment allocations or interpretation of occupancy rules. Temis operates independently and takes no instructions from ABZ. The service is free for ABZ members.
• Energiewendegenossenschaft Region WinterthurminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerABZ collaborated with the Energy Transition Cooperative Region Winterthur to install 62 solar modules on the roof of Siedlung Entlisberg 4. This project was initiated through the ABZ-Dialog as the 'Solaroffensive' group. The Energiewendegenossenschaft supported the installation, and the generated electricity fully benefits the residents of the building.
• Energie 360coreOthersEnergie 360 is one of ABZ's energy suppliers. ABZ procures gas and energy from this provider and others (EKZ, EWZ) rather than on the open market. These suppliers have secured supply contracts, providing ABZ with pricing advantages.
• EKZ (Elektrizitätswerke des Kantons Zürich)coreOthersEKZ is one of ABZ's electricity suppliers, providing power as part of ABZ's energy procurement strategy.
• EWZ (Elektrizitätswerk Zürich)coreOthersEWZ is one of ABZ's electricity suppliers, providing power as part of ABZ's energy procurement strategy.
• Baugenossenschaft mehr als wohnenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerABZ is collaborating with Baugenossenschaft mehr als wohnen, Wohnbaugenossenschaft Grubenacker, Wogeno Zürich, and Stiftung Familienwohnungen on the 'nordnordost' development at Thurgauerstrasse. Together, the five housing providers will develop ~380 apartments, 4,500 sqm of commercial space, and climate-conscious outdoor areas by ~2031. ABZ's share is 110 apartments. Joint architecture competitions are being developed with the City of Zurich.
• Wogeno ZürichminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the 'nordnordost' joint development consortium at Thurgauerstrasse, Zurich.
• Wohnbaugenossenschaft GrubenackerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the 'nordnordost' joint development consortium at Thurgauerstrasse, Zurich.
• Stiftung FamilienwohnungenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the 'nordnordost' joint development consortium at Thurgauerstrasse, Zurich.
• BEP (Baugenossenschaft des Eidgenössischen Personals)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBEP's neighboring settlement is included in the 'Seebahn-Höfe' planning area adjacent to ABZ's Kanzlei project. The two cooperatives are planning in coordination with the City of Zurich.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Baugenossenschaft mehr als wohnen: A non-profit Zurich housing cooperative operating under the cost-rent model. ABZ and mehr als wohnen are documented joint-development partners in the nordnordost consortium at Thurgauerstrasse, fully comparable in mission (affordable cooperative housing), regulatory framework (City of Zurich cost-rent), and target resident base.
• Wogeno Zürich: A Zurich housing cooperative that partners with ABZ on the nordnordost joint development. Both share the cooperative, non-profit, member-governed structure and the cost-rent model — directly comparable in operating model and resident base.
• Wohnbaugenossenschaft Grubenacker: A Zurich-based non-profit housing cooperative that is a named partner with ABZ on the nordnordost joint development at Thurgauerstrasse. Operates the same cost-rent/ City of Zurich regulatory framework with a comparable resident base.
• Stiftung Familienwohnungen Zürich: A Zurich non-profit foundation providing subsidized family housing — one of ABZ's documented nordnordost partners. Directly comparable in mission (affordable family housing), regulatory framework, and the families/intergenerational household segment.
• BEP — Baugenossenschaft des Eidgenössischen Personals: A Zurich housing cooperative whose neighboring settlement is included in the Seebahn-Höfe planning area adjacent to ABZ's Kanzlei project. Operates under the same cost-rent framework and cooperative governance, making it a directly comparable peer.
• Genossenschaft Kalkbreite: A well-known Zurich housing cooperative that developed a flagship mixed-use settlement on former tram-depot land. Compares closely to ABZ on cooperative, cost-rent, mixed-use and community-led governance, though materially smaller in scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/abz_zuerich
• Facebookfacebook.com/ABZ.ch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/abz-ch
• Instagraminstagram.com/abz.zuerich

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Allgemeine Baugenossenschaft Zürich