What DIE EHRENFELDER Gemeinnützige Wohnungsgenossenschaft eG does

DIE EHRENFELDER Gemeinnützige Wohnungsgenossenschaft eG is a member-owned, non-profit housing cooperative (eingetragene Genossenschaft) headquartered in Cologne-Ehrenfeld, Germany. Founded on March 7, 1899 by Rector Franz-Peter Schmitz and civic leaders from the Ehrenfeld district, the cooperative provides long-term affordable housing to approximately 5,000 members through lifelong usage rights tied to share ownership (Geschäftsanteile). It manages approximately 4,000 apartments across more than 600 residential buildings in 11 Cologne districts, including specialized housing for seniors and care-dependent residents.

The cooperative's product portfolio spans standard cooperative apartments (Wohnungen), Mehrgenerationenhaus (multi-generational living) operated with Wohnen mit Alt und Jung e.V., a Pflegewohnung (7-person care apartment) operated with Zu Huss e.V., and a Demenz-WG (9-unit dementia shared apartment) operated with ASB Köln. Member services include two Gästewohnungen (guest apartments at Gotthelfstraße 7 and Leostraße 52), a community-run Nachbarschaftshaus at Ansgarstr. 5, the bi-annual Mieterzeitung VeedelsPost print magazine (4,500 copies), and payment-difficulty counseling. The technology layer is standard: an Aareon CRM-powered member portal for self-service, with no proprietary AI or ML components.

The cooperative's revenue model is built on recurring usage fees (Nutzungsgebühren) from members under Dauernutzungsvertrag (long-term usage contracts), supplemented by service fees from guest apartments and member services. There are no external investors, no funding rounds, and no public listing; the organization is democratically governed by members through a Vertreterversammlung with five-year representative elections. Strategic capital allocation is directed toward new construction (Langhaus Braunsfeld, 76 apartments, completed 2025), large-scale renovation (Kevelaerer/Xantener Str., 140 apartments), and energy modernization (heat pumps, PV, wood pellet systems). Operational discipline is evidenced by the indefinite postponement of the Hosterstraße 1-5 project due to cost inflation.

Name

DIE EHRENFELDER Gemeinnützige Wohnungsgenossenschaft eG

Legal name

DIE EHRENFELDER Gemeinnützige Wohnungsgenossenschaft eG

Website

https://die-ehrenfelder.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1899

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DIE EHRENFELDER is a non-profit, member-owned housing cooperative in Cologne, Germany, founded 1899, providing lifelong affordable housing to ~5,000 members across ~4,000 apartments in 11 districts, plus specialized senior, dementia, and multi-generational housing in partnership with ASB Köln, Zu Huss e.V., and WAJ.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cooperative Housing

NAICS

Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwellings (531110), Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwellings (53111), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331), Other Residential Care Facilities (623990), Continuing Care Retirement Communities (623311)

SIC

Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531), Real Estate Operators (No Developers) & Lessors (6510), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Homeowners Association (HOA) Management (BPAJAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

HOA / Condominium Association Management (BPAJAFAH), Mixed-Use Community Association Management (BPAJAHAF), New Development / Declarant Transition Management (BPAJAHAK), Active Adult / Senior Community Association Management (BPAJAHAJ), Home & Community-Based Services (HCBS) Coordination & Case Management (HSABAIAM)

Keywords

• Cooperative housing services
• Non-profit residential housing
• Multi-generational housing
• Affordable housing management
• Member housing cooperative

Headquarters

HQ city

Köln

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Residential tenancy / Dauernutzungsvertrag: Members pay a economically appropriate usage fee (Nutzungsgebühr) for their cooperative apartments. Members are not traditional tenants but 'Nutzter' (users) with lifelong usage rights acquired through purchasing cooperative shares (Geschäftsanteile). The cooperative does not engage in speculative investments; capital is managed conservatively and returned upon departure.
2. Gästewohnungen (Guest apartments): Two fully furnished guest apartments (Gotthelfstraße 7 and Leostraße 52) available to members for overnight guests. Pricing: 50–60 EUR/day plus end cleaning fee. Bookings available via email.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DIE EHRENFELDER is a non-profit housing cooperative (Gemeinnützige Wohnungsgenossenschaft) that provides approximately 4,000+ apartments across more than 600 residential buildings in 11 Cologne districts to approximately 5,000 members. Members acquire cooperative shares (Geschäftsanteile) to gain lifelong usage rights under Dauernutzungsvertrag, supplemented by specialized housing programs (Demenz-WG, Pflegewohnung, Mehrgenerationenhaus) and member services (Gästewohnungen, Nachbarschaftshaus).

Product overview

DIE EHRENFELDER is a non-profit housing cooperative (Gemeinnützige Wohnungsgenossenschaft) offering approximately 4,000 apartments across more than 600 residential buildings in Cologne. The core offering is cooperative housing membership (Wohnungsmitgliedschaft) providing long-term, affordable housing rights. Specialized housing products include a nursing home (Pflegewohnung), dementia shared living (Demenz-WG), and multi-generational housing (Mehrgenerationenhaus). Member services include two guest apartments (Gästewohnungen) and a neighborhood center (Nachbarschaftshaus). The cooperative also develops new construction projects (Neubau) and renovation projects (Sanierung) to expand and modernize its housing stock.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wohnungen (Cooperative Apartments) Standard cooperative housing apartments offered through membership in DIE EHRENFELDER, with lifelong usage rights under Dauernutzungsvertrag. Available across 11 Cologne districts including Ehrenfeld, Neu-Ehrenfeld, Ossendorf, Nippes, Riehl, Rodenkirchen, Longerich, Bickendorf, Bocklemünd, Vogelsang, and Altstadt-Süd.
• Mehrgenerationenhaus (Multi-generational Housing) Multi-generational housing community at Jakob-Schupp-Str. 22/24 in Ehrenfeld, operated by the WAJ (Wohnen mit Alt und Jung) association. Residents share community spaces for brunches, cooking, crafts, sports, game nights, and celebrations, fostering intergenerational interaction and mutual support.
• Pflegewohnung (Care-Apartment Group Living) Group-living care arrangement for 7 care-dependent residents at Jakob-Schupp-Str. 24, managed by Zu Huss e.V. Features 21 m² private rooms with shower and terrace access plus a 75 m² communal living/dining area. Requires Pflegegrad 3+ and Wohnberechtigungsschein (housing eligibility certificate).
• Demenz-WG (Dementia Shared Living) Shared living for 9 people with dementia at Rochusstr. 307 in Ossendorfer Gartenhöfe, part of Ossendorf. Professionally managed by ASB Köln (Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund) with 24/7 on-site care staff (contact: Renata Hovorka, 0221 - 66 007 610). Requires age 55+ and Pflegegrad 1+.
• Gästewohnungen (Guest Apartments) Two fully furnished guest apartments available to members for their overnight guests. Gotthelfstraße 7: 39 m², 2 persons, 1 bedroom, ground floor, €50.00/day + €25 cleaning (minimum 2 nights). Leostraße 52: 47 m², 4 persons, 2 bedrooms, ground floor, €60.00/day + €35 cleaning (minimum 2 nights, bookable up to 12 months in advance). Both include fully equipped kitchen, towels, and bedding.
• Nachbarschaftshaus (Neighborhood Community Center) Community meeting place at Ansgarstr. 5 in Köln-Neuehrenfeld for members and neighborhood residents. Operated by approximately 10 active volunteers aged 40-78, promoting social interaction, regular community activities, and neighborhood connections. Email: [email protected], Tel: 0221 16 85 74 59, website: www.nachbarschaftshaus.koeln.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 125 years of cooperative operation since 1899 with continuous housing stock expansion
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ASB Köln — Demenz-WGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 June 2019Care partnership for demenz WG (9 apartments at Rochusstr. 307, Ossendorf). ASB provides professional dementia care with staff present 24/7. Contact: Renata Hovorka, Tel: 0221 - 66 007 610.
• VdW Rheinland Westfalen e.V.coreOthersThe cooperative is a member of the Prüfungsverband VdW Rheinland Westfalen e.V., located at Goltsteinstraße 29, 40211 Düsseldorf. This is a mandatory regulatory membership for housing cooperatives in Germany, providing audit and supervision services.
• ASB Köln (Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASB Köln provides 24/7 professional care and support for the Demenz-WG (dementia shared apartment) at Rochusstr. 307 in Ossendorf. ASB staff are present around the clock to assist residents with daily activities, hygiene, and meal preparation. The 9 dementia apartments opened June 7, 2019.
• Zu Huss e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZu Huss e.V. manages the Pflegewohnung (care apartments) at Jakob-Schupp-Str. 24, 50825 Köln. The 7-person group care apartment (Pflegegrad 3+) is operated by the association, which handles care coordination, daily management, and social integration activities for residents.
• Wohnen mit Alt und Jung e.V. (WAJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWAJ is a non-profit association that operates the Mehrgenerationenhaus (multi-generational house) at Jakob-Schupp-Str. 22/24 in Ehrenfeld. Founded in 1994, the association manages intergenerational community living with shared spaces for activities like brunches, crafts, sports, and celebrations.
• AGV (Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wohnungs- und Immobilienunternehmen Köln e.V.)minorOthersIndustry association for housing and real estate companies in Cologne.
• Köln AGminorOthersCologne municipal utility and transport company.
• DESWOS (Deutsche Entwicklungshilfe für soziale Wohnungs- und Siedlungswesen)minorOthersGerman development organization for social housing.
• EBZ (Europäisches Bildungszentrum der Wohnungs- und Immobilienwirtschaft)minorOthersEuropean education center for housing and real estate industry.
• GAG (Gemeinnützige Aktien-Gesellschaft für Wohnungsversorgung Köln)minorOthersCologne's other major non-profit housing company.
• Bürgerstiftung Ehrenfeld KölnminorOthersCivic foundation for the Ehrenfeld district of Cologne.
• Phoenix Cologne AGminorOthersLocal Cologne services partner.
• Pusteblume.koelnminorOthersLocal Cologne initiative.
• Wohnungsbaugenossenschaften KölnminorOthersUmbrella organization for Cologne housing cooperatives.
• Köln-Süd AGminorOthersCologne-Süd utility and services.
• SKM Köln – BerMicominorOthersSKM Köln's BerMico service provides counseling and rent coaching for members facing potential eviction (preventive and acute counseling). Contact: 0221 – 33 77 06-33, [email protected]. Referenced in payment difficulties support page.
• Schuldnerhilfe Köln e.V.minorOthersDebt counseling service recommended to members experiencing payment difficulties. Contact: 0221 – 34 61 40, www.schuldenhelpline.de.
• Stadt Köln – Fachstelle WohnenminorOthersCity of Cologne housing office for housing benefit applications (Wohngeld) and emergency housing support including rental debt coverage (Übernahme von Mietschulden). Tel: 0221 – 22 10.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• LEG Immobilien SE: Major publicly listed German residential landlord focused on North Rhine-Westphalia — the same state as the subject — with comparable exposure to NRW housing demand, energy renovation obligations, and German rental regulation, though operating on a much larger and for-profit basis.
• Deutsche Wohnen SE: Large German residential property company (now under Vonovia) operating a multi-thousand-unit rental portfolio under similar German landlord regulation and energy-retrofit obligations. Comparable on portfolio management and regulatory exposure, though as a for-profit, publicly traded operator.
• Vonovia SE: Germany's largest listed residential landlord with a nationwide portfolio of ~500,000+ units. Comparable on large-scale residential property management and renovation pipeline, but operates as a profit-maximizing public company rather than a non-profit cooperative.

Others

• EBZ (Europäisches Bildungszentrum der Wohnungs- und Immobilienwirtschaft): European training and education center for the housing and real estate industry, listed as a partner in the cooperative's ecosystem. Adjacent/ecosystem-level peer serving the broader German Wohnungswirtschaft rather than competing directly.
• ASB (Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund) Köln: Care-delivery partner for the subject's Demenz-WG dementia housing, providing 24/7 professional care. Relevant as a peer in the residential elder-care service layer where the cooperative operates its specialized housing, and as a model for how non-profit care operators interface with housing providers.
• Köln AG: Municipal utility and infrastructure partner listed in the cooperative's alliance network. Adjacent to housing operations through energy and local-services provision; not a direct residential housing competitor but ecosystem-relevant.

Direct peers

• Wohnungsbaugenossenschaft 'Eisenbahner' Köln eG: Cologne-based housing cooperative operating under identical Genossenschaft structures, providing long-term cooperative housing to members in the same city. Listed within the umbrella Wohnungsbaugenossenschaften Köln organization alongside the subject company.
• GAG (Gemeinnützige Aktien-Gesellschaft für Wohnungsversorgung Köln): Cologne's other major non-profit housing provider, explicitly cited in the company's partnership records as a peer housing company. Operates a comparable non-profit, large-scale residential rental portfolio in the same city, serving similar affordable-housing demand with overlapping municipal and member-facing characteristics.
• Wohnungsgenossenschaft Köln-Süd eG: Regional housing cooperative based in Cologne operating under the same Genossenschaft legal form, providing Dauernutzungsvertrag-style lifelong usage rights to members. Directly comparable on member-owned, non-profit housing model within the same metropolitan market.

Regional players

• Bauverein Bremerhaven eG: Long-established German Wohnungsgenossenschaft with a similar member-owned, non-profit residential housing mandate, though operating in a different city. Comparable on cooperative governance, Genossenschaftsanteile membership model, and non-speculative rental orientation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/die-ehrenfelder-gemeinn%C3%BCtzige-wohnungsgenossenschaft-eg

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 DIE EHRENFELDER Gemeinnützige Wohnungsgenossenschaft eG