GWS
GWS is a 75-year-old non-profit housing developer and property manager in Graz, Styria, building subsidized and market-rate apartments, rent-to-own units, and municipal infrastructure across the region for individual buyers, renters, municipalities, and WEG communities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1950
- HeadquartersGraz, Austria
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What GWS does
GWS Gemeinnützige Alpenländische Gesellschaft für Wohnungsbau und Siedlungswesen m.b.H. is a non-profit housing developer and property manager headquartered in Graz, Styria, Austria. Founded in 1950/1951 and now employing 90+ staff across management, sales, object management, accounting, legal, controlling, energy and facility management, and land acquisition, GWS develops and manages residential properties across Styria through two entities: the parent GWS, which delivers subsidized and privately-financed rental apartments (Mietwohnungen) and rent-to-own options in rural Styria, and its 100% subsidiary NEXT by GWS (GWS Bau- und Verwaltungsgesellschaft m.b.H.), which focuses on urban ownership apartments in Graz and Graz-Umgebung. Across 75+ years the company has served approximately 40,000 customers.
The business operates four revenue streams: apartment sales (one-time), rental income (recurring), property management services for WEG communities, municipalities, and private owners (managed services), and infrastructure construction such as kindergartens, community centers, and senior homes for municipalities. Pricing models vary by project — ownership apartments range from approximately €164,000 to €584,000+ in the Graz area, while rent-to-own units command €660–€2,020/month plus a down payment of €45,000–€147,000 with purchase option after 5 years. Distribution runs through a dedicated in-house sales team (Gregor Veit, Bernd Stubenrauch, Gerlinde Brauchart, Alexandra Krampl, Gabriele Schmidthaler, Julia Wolmuth), an online customer portal (gws-home4you.at), and physical showrooms with model apartments.
Technically, GWS has invested in sustainable construction: it is the first housing developer in Styria to implement passive house standards in multi-story residential construction, has installed over 9,000 m² of solar thermal and 1,500+ m² of photovoltaic systems, and jointly developed a cascaded heat pump system with AEE Intec that reduced heating energy demand by more than 30% in retrofitted buildings. The firm is owned by Wirtschaftskammer Steiermark, Landeskammer für Land- und Forstwirtschaft Steiermark, and Steiermärkische Bank und Sparkassen AG, holds the Austrian Gütezeichen für Hausverwaltungen quality mark, and was nominated for the Energy Globe Styria Award 2024 and the Österreichischer Klimaschutzpreis. Its current pipeline includes the 282-unit LENDPARK project, the 122-unit Friedrich-Ritter-Weg development, and the 95-unit Rankengasse/Karlauerstraße project, alongside an active land acquisition effort.
GWS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GWS
- Legal name
- GWS Gemeinnützige Alpenländische Gesellschaft für Wohnungsbau und Siedlungswesen m.b.H.
- Website
- https://gws-wohnen.at
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1950
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- GWS is a 75-year-old non-profit housing developer and property manager in Graz, Styria, building subsidized and market-rate apartments, rent-to-own units, and municipal infrastructure across the region for individual buyers, renters, municipalities, and WEG communities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GWS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Residential Real Estate Development and Property Management
- NAICS
- Residential Property Managers (531311), Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwellings (53111), New Multifamily Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (236116), New Housing For-Sale Builders (236117), Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (53)
- SIC
- Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513), Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531), General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Affordable & Subsidized Housing Property Management (LIHTC, Section 8) (BPAJAFAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Multi-Family Residential Construction (Apartments, Condos, Townhomes) (IMAFABAB)
Keywords
Where GWS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Graz
- HQ country
- Austria
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
GWS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Apartment Sales (Eigentumswohnungen): Revenue from selling freifinanzierte (market-rate) and geförderte (subsidized) ownership apartments primarily in urban Graz area. Customers can purchase directly or through rent-to-own model.
- Rental Income (Mietwohnungen): Revenue from renting geförderte (subsidized) and freifinanzierte rental apartments with purchase option (Mietkaufwohnungen) primarily in rural areas of Styria.
- Property Management Services (Hausverwaltung): Housing management services for own properties, apartment owner communities (WEG), municipal housing developments, and commercial/private property owners. Includes technical, commercial, and legal management.
- Infrastructure Construction (Infrastrukturbauten): Construction of municipal buildings including kindergartens, community centers, event venues, and senior homes as part of comprehensive community development.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One time | Freifinanzierte Eigentumswohnungen (Market-rate ownership apartments) - Graz/Graz-Umgebung |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Mietwohnungen mit Kaufoption (Rent-to-own apartments) - Graz-Umgebung |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Freifinanzierte Eigentumswohnungen - Friedrich-Ritter-Weg project (122 units) |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Mietwohnungen mit Kaufoption - Premstätten project |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
GWS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GWS develops, rents, sells, and manages residential real estate in Styria, Austria, offering subsidized and free-financed rental apartments as well as ownership apartments. Beyond housing delivery, it provides property management for homeowner communities (WEG), infrastructure construction, project management, and energy and facility management services through its subsidiary NEXT by GWS.
Product overview
GWS (Gemeinnützige Alpenländische Gesellschaft für Wohnungsbau und Siedlungswesen m.b.H.) is a non-profit housing developer and property manager based in Graz, Styria, operating since 1950. The company operates through two main entities: the parent GWS, which provides subsidized and privately financed rental apartments in rural Styrian areas, and its 100% subsidiary NEXT by GWS (GWS Bau- und Verwaltungsgesellschaft m.b.H.), which focuses on privately financed owner-occupied apartments in Graz and surrounding areas. Together they offer a complete lifecycle of housing services: residential property development (both ownership and rental models), full-scale object/property management awarded the Austrian quality mark (Gütezeichen), communal infrastructure construction (kindergartens, senior homes, event centers), project management for third-party clients, energy and facility management, and a digital customer portal (Online-Service-Center). The product portfolio is completed by a property alert service (Suchagent) and an extensive catalog of residential projects in various stages (planning, construction, ready-for-occupancy). The company also publishes an annual customer magazine and organizes community events.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- NEXT by GWS: Sub-brand of GWS Bau- und Verwaltungsgesellschaft m.b.H. focusing on Eigentumswohnungen in urban areas (Graz and Graz Umgebung) and rental apartments in rural areas of Styria.
Products and services
- Subsidized and free-financed rental apartments Long-term rental apartments offered by GWS in Styria, available both under Austrian subsidized housing programs and as free-financed (non-subsidized) units, targeting income-qualified households and families seeking affordable rental housing.
- Ownership apartments Newly built condominiums developed and sold by GWS in Graz and other Styrian locations, intended for individual owner-occupiers purchasing a primary residence.
- Property management services (Hausverwaltung / Objektmanagement) Third-party property management services for homeowner communities (WEG) and private property owners, covering administrative, financial, and operational management of residential buildings.
- Infrastructure construction (Infrastrukturbauten) Construction of infrastructure projects for municipalities and other public clients in Styria, delivered as a standalone construction service by GWS.
- Project management (Projektmanagement) Project management services for building and development projects, supporting clients through planning, execution, and handover of residential or infrastructure projects.
- Energy and facility management Energy and facility management services for buildings in GWS's portfolio and for third-party clients, covering operational optimization, energy monitoring, and facility operations.
- NEXT by GWS — renovation and lease-up service Service brand of GWS Bau- und Verwaltungsgesellschaft m.b.H. providing renovation, refurbishment, and lease-up of residential properties for owners and investors.
Quantifiable outcome
- Heating energy demand reduced by more than 30% through thermal renovation (HWB reduced from 155-163 kWh/m²a to 48-51 kWh/m²a)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use GWS
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
GWS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
GWS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- AEE Intec (Gleisdorf)coreCollaboration with AEE Intec from Gleisdorf on thermal renovation project at Südtiroler Gasse in Liezen, implementing innovative cascaded heat pump heating systems combined with photovoltaic installations. This partnership resulted in the Energy Globe Styria Award 2024 nomination.
- Styrian Companies and ArchitectscoreGWS works with over 400 regional Styrian companies and architects, following a best-principle approach with regional partners. Individual new construction projects involve partnerships with approximately 240 companies across all trades.
- NEXT by GWS (GWS Bau- und Verwaltungsgesellschaft m.b.H.)core100% owned subsidiary of GWS operating under the 'NEXT by GWS' brand. Focuses on urban Eigentumswohnungen (ownership apartments) in the Graz metropolitan area, complementing GWS's rural rental housing focus.
Scale indicators16 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
GWS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wohnbaugruppe Ennstal: Styrian non-profit housing developer focused on subsidized and freifinanzierte construction plus property management in the Ennstal region. Comparable regional gemeinnütziger Wohnbautr\u00e4ger model serving the same Styrian market geography as GWS.
- Lawog (Oberösterreichische gemeinnützige Wohnungs- und Siedlungsgenossenschaft): Upper Austrian non-profit housing developer offering subsidized and freifinanzierte apartments with integrated property management. Comparable non-profit, multi-tenure residential model and similar lifecycle services to GWS, but operating in a different Austrian state.
- WBV-GPA Wohnungsvereinigung für Privatangestellte: Austrian non-profit housing developer and manager serving employee groups with subsidized and market-rate apartments across multiple states. Direct peer in the gemeinnützig segment with similar development-plus-management service stack to GWS.
- Heimat Österreich: Austria's largest non-profit housing developer (gemeinnütziger Wohnbautr\u00e4ger), providing subsidized and market-rate rental and ownership apartments nationwide. Directly comparable to GWS in non-profit status, mixed-tenure product mix, full-service development and property management model.
- Alpenland Gemeinnützige Wohnungsgesellschaft: Styria- and Vienna-based non-profit housing developer providing subsidized rental and ownership apartments with property management services. Closest geographic and structural peer to GWS given overlap in Styrian market and gemeinnützig operating model.
- Siedlungsgenossenschaft Neues Heim: Austrian cooperative housing developer providing subsidized and market-rate apartments with property management. Comparable non-profit, mixed-tenure residential product to GWS, operating primarily in Vienna but with structural alignment to the gemeinnützig model.
Regional players
- Neue Heimat Tirol: Tyrol-based non-profit housing developer offering subsidized rental and ownership apartments with property management services. Comparable gemeinnützig operating model and product offering to GWS, but limited to the Tyrol state.
Broad incumbents
- Porr AG: One of Austria's largest full-service construction companies with deep exposure to residential building construction and renovation. Compares to GWS as a broader incumbent in the same Austrian residential construction market, though operating with a commercial rather than non-profit model.
- Strabag AG: Austrian subsidiary of the European construction group Strabag SE, active in residential building construction including large multi-family projects. Comparable as a broad incumbent in Austrian residential construction to GWS's in-house development capacity.
Others
- KELAG-K\u00e4rntner Energie-\u0026 W\u00e4rme GmbH: Carinthian-based energy and heating services provider active in residential heat-pump and thermal-renovation projects. Adjacent/ecosystem peer given GWS's deployment of cascaded heat pump and thermal renovation systems; comparable in Austrian sustainable housing technology integration.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
GWS social profiles
Digital presenceGWS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GWS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
GWS subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
GWS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GWS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GWS
What does GWS do?
GWS develops, rents, sells, and manages residential real estate in Styria, Austria, offering subsidized and free-financed rental apartments as well as ownership apartments. Beyond housing delivery, it provides property management for homeowner communities (WEG), infrastructure construction, project management, and energy and facility management services through its subsidiary NEXT by GWS.
Is GWS a public or private company?
GWS is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was GWS founded?
GWS was founded in 1950. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is GWS based?
GWS is headquartered in Graz, Austria, in the Europe region.
How does GWS make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Apartment Sales (Eigentumswohnungen) is the primary driver. The others are rental Income (Mietwohnungen), property Management Services (Hausverwaltung) and infrastructure Construction (Infrastrukturbauten).
Who are GWS's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wohnbaugruppe Ennstal, Lawog (Oberösterreichische gemeinnützige Wohnungs- und Siedlungsgenossenschaft), WBV-GPA Wohnungsvereinigung für Privatangestellte, Heimat Österreich, Alpenland Gemeinnützige Wohnungsgesellschaft and Siedlungsgenossenschaft Neues Heim. Neue Heimat Tirol is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Porr AG and Strabag AG. KELAG-K\u00e4rntner Energie-\u0026 W\u00e4rme GmbH is listed as an others.
Does GWS have an API?
No public API is recorded for GWS.
What industry is GWS in?
GWS's product category is Residential Real Estate Development and Property Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAJAFAD, Affordable & Subsidized Housing Property Management (LIHTC, Section 8), with a secondary code of IMAFABAB, Multi-Family Residential Construction (Apartments, Condos, Townhomes). Its NAICS code is 531311 and its SIC code is 6513.