SWD Düsseldorf

What SWD Düsseldorf does

SWD Düsseldorf is a municipal housing company (städtische Wohnungsgesellschaft) wholly owned by the City of Düsseldorf (Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf), structured as a three-entity group headed by SWD Städt. Wohnungsbau-GmbH & Co. KG Düsseldorf (SWD KG I), with SWD Wohnungs-Verwaltungs-GmbH Düsseldorf as the managing general partner and SWD Städt. Wohnungsgesellschaft Düsseldorf mbH & Co. KG (SWD KG II) handling tenant services. The company was restructured in its current form in 2015-2016 when the city transferred approximately 334 Mio. EUR of real estate assets and over 2,000 city-owned properties to enable SWD to act as an active developer. It now manages more than 8,500 residential units across 19+ Düsseldorf districts and is the largest provider of preisregulierter Wohnraum in the city, with over 1,600 publicly subsidized apartments. Governance is overseen by a supervisory board chaired by Mayor Dr. Stephan Keller.

SWD's revenue model is built on residential rental income across a tiered pricing structure: publicly subsidized units (Förderweg A/B with cold rents as low as 7.35 EUR/m²), city-incentive "impulsgefördert" units (capped at 12.00 EUR/m²), price-damped (preisgedämpft) apartments, and free-financed market-rate units. As of December 2020, SWD KG II held 1,278 apartments in its own portfolio and managed 7,155 apartments leased from SWD KG I. A secondary income stream comes from property sales (Verkäufe). Distribution is direct: a self-serve website portal, email newsletter, multiple Mieter-Service-Büros, and—for subsidized allocations—the city's Wohnungsamt via Wohnberechtigungsschein. Customer segments span low/moderate-income residents, seniors, families, apprentices, students, and people with disabilities, with select partnerships for multi-generational and assisted-living housing (Gemeinsam leben am Schloss e.V., Arbeiterwohlfahrt).

New construction and modernization projects adhere to KfW 55, Effizienzhaus 55, and Effizienzhaus 40 standards, incorporating photovoltaic systems, heat pumps, intensive green roofs (Dachbegrünung, Biodiversitätsdächer), and district heating (Fernwärme). The Mieterstromprojekt — a tenant electricity model where rooftop PV electricity is sold directly to tenants at preferential rates — is operated in partnership with Stadtwerke Düsseldorf, deployed at Heyestraße (~100 kWp, ~100,000 kWh/year) and Hansaallee (~30 kWp, ~30,000 kWh/year). Tenant engagement is supported by the SWD-App for damage reporting and communication, and construction is financed in part through NRW.BANK Wohnraumförderung with development partners including WILMA Wohnen West.

Name

SWD Düsseldorf

Legal name

SWD Städt. Wohnungsgesellschaft Düsseldorf mbH & Co. KG

Website

https://swd-duesseldorf.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SWD Düsseldorf is the municipal housing company wholly owned by the City of Düsseldorf, Germany. It manages more than 8,500 residential units — including over 1,600 publicly subsidized apartments — serving low- and moderate-income residents, families, seniors, students, and people with disabilities across the city.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Housing Services

NAICS

Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwellings (53111), Services to Buildings and Dwellings (5617), New Multifamily Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (236116)

SIC

Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340), Lessors Of Real Property, Nec (6519), General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable & Subsidized Housing Property Management (LIHTC, Section 8) (BPAJAFAD)

Keywords

• Social housing services
• Residential property management
• Affordable housing provider
• Municipal housing company
• Housing Subsidies Coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Düsseldorf

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Residential Rental Income: SWD generates revenue primarily through renting out residential apartments. The company manages more than 8,500 Wohnungseinheiten (housing units). Rental income is derived from a mix of publicly subsidized (öffentlich gefördert), impulsgefördert, price-damped (preisgedämpft), and free-financed (frei finanziert) apartments. SWD Städt. Wohnungsgesellschaft Düsseldorf mbH & Co. KG (SWD KG II) counts 1,278 apartments in its own portfolio and manages an additional 7,155 apartments leased from SWD Städt. Wohnungsbau-GmbH & Co. KG (SWD KG I) (as of December 2020).
2. Property Sales: SWD sells apartments and real estate to generate additional revenue. The website includes a 'Verkäufe' (Sales) section, indicating a secondary revenue stream from property divestments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SWD Düsseldorf is a municipal housing company that develops, modernizes, manages, and rents residential apartments across Düsseldorf. It manages more than 8,500 housing units spanning four pricing tiers (publicly subsidized Förderweg A/B, städtische Impulsförderung capped at €12.00/m², preisgedämpft, and free-financed market-rate) and serves as the primary provider of price-regulated housing in the city. Tenants are supported through district-based Mieter-Service-Büros, the SWD mobile app, an online apartment search portal, and damage reporting services.

Product overview

SWD Düsseldorf is a municipal housing company offering residential property management services including apartment rentals, property administration, maintenance, and new construction. The company's portfolio consists of approximately 8,500 housing units. Services include the SWD-App for tenant mobile services, online apartment search, damage reporting, and energy saving advisory. The company focuses on affordable housing with publicly subsidized apartments and modernization of existing buildings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Rental Housing (Wohnungsverwaltung) Long-term rental of residential apartments across four pricing tiers (publicly subsidized Förderweg A/B, städtische Impulsförderung, preisgedämpft, and free-financed market-rate) for individual tenants and families in Düsseldorf. Includes rental, administration, maintenance, modernization, and value enhancement of the more than 8,500-unit housing stock.
• New Construction First Rental (Neubau-Erstvermietung) Rental services for newly constructed residential buildings developed by SWD, including major projects such as Bilk (160 apartments), Hospitalstraße 1 (91 apartments), Heyestraße 51-53 (61 publicly subsidized apartments), Hansaallee 270-276 (46 publicly subsidized apartments), and Chemnitzer Straße (44 affordable apartments).
• Property / Apartment Sales (Verkäufe) One-off sale of apartments and real estate by SWD, providing a secondary revenue stream from property divestments.
• SWD Mobile App (Die SWD-App) Mobile application for SWD tenants enabling seamless damage reporting (Schadensmanagement) and tenant communication.
• Online Apartment Search (Wohnungssuche) Self-serve online portal for housing seekers to filter and discover available rental apartments by district, size, and financing type (subsidized, impulsförd., preisgedämpft, free-financed).
• Modernization and Energy-Efficient Retrofits New construction and modernization programs that bring existing housing stock to KfW 55 / Effizienzhaus 55 standards, including facade insulation, roof upgrades, new windows, and installation of photovoltaic, heat pump, and district heating systems. Includes the multi-year Hellweg modernization covering multiple buildings.
• Mieterstromprojekt (Tenant Electricity Service) Sale of rooftop photovoltaic-generated electricity directly to SWD tenants at preferential rates, implemented in cooperation with Stadtwerke Düsseldorf. First deployed at Heyestraße 51-53 (100 kWp PV) and Hansaallee 270-276 (~30 kWp PV).
• Email Apartment Listing Service (E-Mail-Service Wohnungsangebote) Email subscription service that notifies rental housing seekers about newly available SWD apartments.
• Newsletter Service (Hauspost) Periodic newsletter (Hauspost) and Hauspost EXTRA 'Energie' publication providing updates on construction projects, energy saving tips, and company news for tenants and subscribers.
• Damage Reporting Service (Schadensmeldung) Online service for tenants to report maintenance issues and damages to their rental properties, with parallel mobile reporting via the SWD-App.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,600 publicly subsidized apartments - making SWD the most important provider of preisregulierter Wohnraum in Düsseldorf
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• PORR Hochbau West GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2023PORR Hochbau West GmbH served as the general contractor for the Hansaallee 270-276 project (46 publicly subsidized apartments). Klaus Feldhaus, SWD Managing Director, specifically noted PORR's role in completing the project 'komplett im Zeit- und Budgetplan' (completely on schedule and on budget).
• Gemeinsam leben am Schloss Benrath e.V. (Multi-generational Living Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017A cooperation agreement (Kooperationsvertrag) was signed in 2017 between SWD and the association for the Hospitalstraße 1 project. The association reserves 60 of 91 apartments for its multi-generational living concept, including a care facility for 8 residents and a guest apartment. The partnership also involves the Arbeiterwohlfahrt (AWO) Düsseldorf for the assisted living component.
• WILMA Wohnen West / WILMA GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWILMA Wohnen West was the original developer of the 'Freiraum: Neues Wohnen in Bilk' project. SWD purchased approximately 11,611 m² of land from WILMA for around 56.5 million EUR, developing 160 apartments and the SWD headquarters. WILMA continues to build adjacent row houses (Stadthäuser) in the same project. For the Lierenfeld project at Königsberger Straße, WILMA serves as the general contractor building 10 multi-family houses for SWD, as well as 32 single-family homes for its own marketing.
• Stadtwerke Düsseldorf (Düsseldorf Utilities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWD cooperates with Stadtwerke Düsseldorf for Mieterstromprojekt (tenant electricity) programs. At the Hansaallee project, the PV installation was implemented in cooperation with Stadtwerke Düsseldorf, allowing tenants to purchase solar-generated electricity directly. Stadtwerke also provides district heating (Fernwärme) connections for many SWD buildings.
• Netzwerk Hellweg/Märchenland (Community Network)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSWD is one of the supporters (Unterstützer) of the Netzwerk Hellweg/Märchenland community network's annual summer festival. This network organizes community events in the Hellweg/Flingern neighborhood where SWD owns and manages a significant housing stock undergoing large-scale modernization.
• Jugendclub INFO (Youth Club)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWD supports the Jugendclub INFO at Hellweg 70a in hosting a weekly Nachbarschafts-Café (neighborhood café) every Friday at 10 AM, open to all neighbors. The club is part of the GUT DRAUF and FreizeitFit4KIDS programs and offers sports and health activities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• GAG Immobilien AG: Cologne's municipal housing company, directly comparable as a city-owned residential property manager providing subsidized and market-rate housing. Operates a similar mandate with ~44,000+ units and serves as the primary instrument for affordable housing policy in Cologne, mirroring SWD's role in Düsseldorf.
• WBM Wohnungsbaugesellschaft Berlin-Mitte mbH: Berlin municipal housing company managing ~34,000+ units in central Berlin. Comparable as a city-owned residential housing provider with a similar mandate to provide affordable housing and modernize legacy stock, though focused on inner Berlin districts.
• SAGA Hamburg (Siedlungs-Aktiengesellschaft Hamburg): Hamburg's municipal housing company managing ~135,000 units, providing publicly subsidized and market-rate housing. Closely comparable as a large city-owned residential housing company with a social mandate and similar tenant service operations, though at a much larger scale than SWD.
• GEWOBAG Wohnungsbau-Aktiengesellschaft Berlin: Berlin's municipal housing company with ~76,000+ units. Comparable as a city-owned residential housing provider with a portfolio of subsidized and market-rate apartments, similar structure to SWD but with a much larger portfolio and broader geographic footprint within Berlin.
• HOWOGE Wohnungsbaugesellschaft mbH: Berlin's municipal housing company with ~83,000+ units. Directly comparable as a city-owned housing company providing affordable and subsidized housing, recently active in new construction with modern sustainability standards similar to SWD's KfW 55 approach.
• GBG Mannheim: Mannheim's municipal housing company managing approximately 20,000+ units. Closely comparable as a German city-owned housing company providing subsidized and market-rate housing with active new construction and modernization programs, similar in scale to SWD.
• Nassauische Heimstätte | Wohnstadt (NHW): State-owned housing company of Hessen, but with significant NRW operations. Comparable as a public-sector development and property management company providing subsidized housing in multiple German states, with similar new construction and modernization programs.
• Bauverein Münster: Münster's municipal housing company, comparable to SWD as a city-owned residential housing provider offering subsidized and market-rate housing. Similar scale and similar regional social housing mandate in a German mid-sized city.

Broad incumbents

• Vonovia SE: Germany's largest residential real estate company with ~500,000+ units across all German states. Comparable as a major residential property manager with significant subsidized housing portfolio, though at massive scale and as a private public company rather than a municipal housing company.
• LEG Immobilien SE: NRW-based residential real estate company with ~166,000 units, headquartered in Düsseldorf. While private and broader in scope, it operates in the same geographic market and provides comparable residential rental offerings, though at market-rate rather than subsidized rents.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/swd-d%C3%BCsseldorf

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 SWD Düsseldorf