What HGW Heimstätten-Genossenschaft Winterthur does

HGW Heimstätten-Genossenschaft Winterthur is a member-owned, non-profit Swiss housing cooperative founded in 1923 to address housing shortages in the Winterthur region. The cooperative manages approximately 2,250 apartments across 14 settlements (including Bülach, Grabenacker, Grüntal, Grüzefeld, Niklausen, Neftenbach, Sennhof, Stadtrain, Wiesendangen, Wolfbühl, and others) in the cantons of Zürich and Schaffhausen, housing more than 5,000 residents. Since its 2019 merger with Eisenbahner-Baugenossenschaft Schaffhausen (EBS), HGW has extended operations into Schaffhausen and Flurlingen. As a Genossenschaft, residents are cooperative members (Genossenschafter:innen) with voting rights at the Generalversammlung and participation in settlement-level decision-making.

The cooperative operates on a cost-oriented (kostenorientiert) rental model in which rents are set against actual costs rather than market rates, with a solidarity fund (Solidaritätsfonds) that phases in renovation-driven rent increases over four years. Core product is the rental apartment, distributed directly to members via the HGW website's "Freie Wohnungen" booking system; add-on services include Coworking Sennhof, Quartierräume (community rooms), and a quarterly newsletter ("Häsch Gwüsst"). The technology footprint is light and vendor-dependent: a custom reservation tool built by Dachcom.Digital AG on the Pimcore platform, with the broader website maintained by DACHCOM.CH AG. Sustainability operations have scaled to 31 photovoltaic installations and 193 EV charging parking spaces, executed in partnership with local cooperative Wintisolar.

Revenue derives from monthly residential rental subscriptions, plus ancillary streams such as the Depositenkasse, parking, and coworking. HGW reinvests all surpluses into property maintenance, renovation, reserves, and new construction rather than distributing profits. In 2025, the cooperative invested approximately CHF 11.7 million in maintenance and renovation and secured the building permit for the Sägeareal renovation, with ~150 new apartments in pipeline across Grabenacker and Alpenblick Schaffhausen. The organization is led by CEO Gamal Rasmy (since February 2022), Board President Dieter Beeler, and an 18-person operational team spanning Bewirtschaftung, Bau und Planung, Genossenschaftliches affairs, finance, and facility management.

Name

HGW Heimstätten-Genossenschaft Winterthur

Legal name

HGW Heimstätten-Genossenschaft Winterthur

Website

https://hgw-wohnen.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HGW Heimstätten-Genossenschaft Winterthur is a Swiss non-profit housing cooperative founded in 1923, managing approximately 2,250 cost-oriented rental apartments across 14 settlements in the Winterthur and Schaffhausen regions, serving more than 5,000 resident-members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Housing Cooperative / Residential Property Management

NAICS

Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwellings (53111)

SIC

Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513)

akta.pro primary industry

Cooperative (Co-op) Housing Association Management (BPAJAHAC)

Keywords

• Affordable housing
• Housing cooperative
• Residential rental
• Property management
• Community housing

Headquarters

HQ city

Winterthur

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Residential Rental Income: HGW generates revenue through rental income from approximately 2,250 apartments across multiple settlements in the Winterthur region. Rents are cost-oriented (kostenorientiert), meaning they are set based on actual costs rather than market rates, reflecting the cooperative's mission to provide affordable housing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HGW Heimstätten-Genossenschaft Winterthur is a non-profit housing cooperative that provides cost-oriented rental apartments to its members across approximately 14 settlements in the Winterthur and Schaffhausen regions of Switzerland. Beyond affordable housing, it offers community-focused amenities including coworking spaces, neighborhood rooms for events, a quarterly newsletter, and sustainability programs such as photovoltaic installations and EV charging. Members (Genossenschafter:innen) participate in governance through the Generalversammlung, and a solidarity fund supports tenants during rent transitions.

Product overview

HGW Heimstätten-Genossenschaft Winterthur is a housing cooperative providing affordable apartments across approximately 15 settlements in the Winterthur region (including Bülach, Grabenacker, Grüntal, Grüzefeld, Niklausen, Neftenbach, Salomon-Bleuler-Weg, Sennhof, Stadtrain, Sulz Rickenbach, Wiesendangen, Wolfbühl, Zwinglistrasse, and others). The cooperative manages around 2,250 apartments housing over 5,000 residents. The core offering includes rental apartments available through an online booking system, complemented by community services such as coworking spaces (Sennhof), neighborhood rooms for events, and a quarterly newsletter ('Häsch Gwüsst'). The cooperative also offers sustainability initiatives including photovoltaic installations, e-mobility charging stations, and biodiversity programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Freie Wohnungen (Affordable Rental Apartments) Cost-oriented rental apartments (kostenorientiert) across approximately 14 settlements in the Winterthur and Schaffhausen regions, available to cooperative members (Genossenschafter:innen) through an online booking system. Approximately 2,250 apartments housing 5,000+ residents.
• Coworking Sennhof Coworking space located in the Sennhof settlement, offering flexible workspace options for residents and community members.
• Quartierräume (Neighborhood Rooms) Community spaces available in various settlements for residents' events, gatherings, and neighborhood activities.
• Depositenkasse (Tenant Deposit Account) Deposit account service for tenants, referenced as part of HGW's Mieterservice (tenant services) offering on the official website.

Quantifiable outcome

• 0.18% vacancy rate in Winterthur (2025) demonstrates extreme housing scarcity, underscoring value of HGW's affordable housing supply

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• WintisolarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWintisolar is a local partner cooperative that works with HGW on solar/photovoltaic projects. The partnership has enabled HGW to install 31 photovoltaic installations across its properties. The companies collaborated on the 164-module solar installation at Flüelistrasse settlement, where a drone was used for the first time to transport modules to the roof.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wohnbaugenossenschaft Winterthur (wbgwin): Local Winterthur housing cooperative operating affordable rental apartments in the same primary market as HGW. Direct competitor for tenants and members in the Winterthur region.
• Baugenossenschaft mehr als wohnen: Zürich-based housing cooperative operating with a similar cooperative, member-governance, and affordability-focused model. Highly comparable in structure and target demographic to HGW.
• Wohn- und Baugenossenschaft WBG: Zürich-area housing cooperative providing affordable rental housing under a cooperative model. Comparable member-governance and cost-oriented rental structure to HGW.
• Allgemeine Baugenossenschaft Zürich (ABZ): One of Switzerland's largest housing cooperatives managing tens of thousands of apartments in the Canton of Zürich. Directly comparable non-profit cooperative model with member governance, cost-oriented rents, and similar mission-driven affordable housing focus.
• Baugenossenschaft Glattal: Regional housing cooperative in the Glatttal/Zürich area providing affordable apartments through cooperative membership. Directly comparable business model and target market.
• WOGENO Genossenschaft: Swiss housing cooperative focused on long-term affordable rental housing through a solidarity-based model. Comparable mission, member-governance structure, and rental approach to HGW.

Broad incumbents

• Allreal Holding AG: Swiss listed real estate company active in residential and commercial property development and investment. Comparable market but operates as a profit-oriented incumbent rather than cooperative.
• Mobimo Holding AG: SMI-listed Swiss real estate company with a substantial residential portfolio. Operates in the same Swiss residential market as HGW but as a for-profit, professionally-managed broad incumbent rather than a member cooperative.
• PSP Swiss Property AG: Leading Swiss listed real estate company with a portfolio focused on commercial and select residential properties in major Swiss cities. Broad incumbent in the same Swiss property market as HGW.

Others

• Schweizerischer Verband der Wohnbau-Genossenschaften (WBG Schweiz): Swiss umbrella association for residential housing cooperatives. Provides industry context, advocacy, and networking relevant to HGW's operating environment but does not itself own or manage properties.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hgw-winterthur

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 HGW Heimstätten-Genossenschaft Winterthur