Wohnungsgenossenschaft Herne-sud Eg

What Wohnungsgenossenschaft Herne-sud Eg does

Wohnungsgenossenschaft Herne-Süd eG (WHS) is a member-owned residential housing cooperative founded in 1927 and headquartered at Siepenstraße 10a in Herne, Germany. The cooperative provides affordable, barrier-free, and energy-efficient rental housing across multiple neighborhoods in Herne and surrounding areas including Recklinghausen, Witten, and Herten-Westerholt, serving general members, seniors, families, and publicly subsidized tenants. Members purchase cooperative shares as a condition of tenancy, gain democratic voting rights (one member, one vote), and benefit from cost-oriented rents that insulate them from the speculative pressures of the for-profit rental market.

The cooperative's portfolio has expanded through a series of major new construction and modernization projects: Wohnen Am Europaplatz (92 units, completed 2024), Wohnen Am Westbach (116 units, completed mid-2025 at ~€40M), and Wohnen im Fortuna-Park (40 units, groundbreaking October 2024, completion mid-2027). FY2025 produced an annual surplus of approximately €1.2M and a balance sheet profit above €715K, with €53.39M in equity (37.3% equity ratio) and a 0.22% vacancy rate. Recent projects achieve KFW100 energy efficiency standards via heat pumps and photovoltaic systems, and the cooperative is piloting the Digitaler Gebäuderessourcenpass — the first deployment by any NRW housing company — for digital material and CO2 footprint documentation.

WHS operates a member-driven go-to-market motion combining community referrals, events (Oktoberfest, member excursions, senior programs), digital apartment search via its website, and the Meine WHS tenant portal powered by Aareon. Ancillary services include a self-service contractor system (Handwerkerselbstbeauftragung), security reimbursement up to €1,000 per member, subsidized tutoring, guest apartment booking, and WOGES co-marketing discounts. Revenue derives from recurring monthly rental income from members, one-time cooperative share purchases, and modernization/maintenance fees, with public subsidies (Wohnraumförderung NRW) funding approximately €19.55M of recent project costs.

Name

Wohnungsgenossenschaft Herne-sud Eg

Legal name

Wohnungsgenossenschaft Herne-Süd eG

Website

https://whs.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1927

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wohnungsgenossenschaft Herne-Süd eG is a member-owned residential housing cooperative founded in 1927, providing affordable, energy-efficient rental housing across Herne, Recklinghausen, Witten, and Herten-Westerholt in Germany, serving general members, seniors, families, and publicly subsidized tenants through democratic one-member-one-vote governance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cooperative Residential Housing

NAICS

Facilities Support Services (561210)

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Homeowners Association (HOA) Management (BPAJAHAB)

Keywords

• Housing cooperative
• Residential property management
• Affordable rental housing
• Cooperative housing services
• Tenant membership services

Headquarters

HQ city

Herne

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Residential Rental Income: Primary revenue stream from renting apartments to members. Rents are kept affordable as a core cooperative principle. Modernization projects may result in moderate rent adjustments while maintaining affordability. Rental income from approximately 230+ apartments across multiple properties in Herne and surrounding areas.
2. Membership Shares: Members purchase cooperative shares as a prerequisite for tenancy. This represents a capital contribution to the cooperative and creates member investment in the community.
3. Modernization and Maintenance Services: Revenue from charges for modernization work, maintenance services, and related housing management fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Wohnungsgenossenschaft Herne-Süd eG (WHS) is a member-owned housing cooperative that provides affordable, secure, and socially responsible rental housing to its members in Herne, Germany and surrounding areas. Founded in 1927, it manages a portfolio of 230+ apartments, delivers new construction and modernization projects, and supplements core housing with member benefits such as a tenant portal, community events, security counseling, and tutoring programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Apartment Rentals (Wohnungssuche) Core offering of rental apartments to cooperative members across properties in Herne and surrounding areas, with rents kept affordable through the cooperative model.
• New Construction and Major Modernization Projects Newly built or fully modernized affordable housing developments featuring barrier-free design, energy-efficient KfW 100 standards, and integrated community facilities.
• Guest Apartment (Gästewohnung) Short-stay guest apartment available to WHS members for visiting friends and family, booked through the cooperative's guest apartment database.
• Starter-Tarif (Entry Membership Tier)

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Stadtentwicklungsgesellschaft Herne (SEG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021WHS acquired land for the 'Wohnen im Fortuna-Park' project through a public interest inquiry process conducted by SEG. SEG also developed the adjacent Quartierpark. Jointly shapes urban development in Herne-Baukau.
• VdW Rheinland Westfalen (Verband der Wohnungs- und Immobilienwirtschaft Rheinland Westfalen e.V.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association providing guidance on housing policy, advocacy, and professional standards. The VdW represents member companies' interests and provides consulting on regulatory matters. Director Alexander Rychter regularly attends WHS events.
• Tor5 Architekten (Bochum)coreTechnology or IntegrationArchitectural firm responsible for designing multiple WHS projects including 'Wohnen im Fortuna-Park' and 'Wohnen Am Westbach'. Created visualizations and detailed planning for new construction and modernization projects.
• WOGES (Marketinginitiative)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing cooperation of six Herner housing companies promoting cooperative living, sponsoring cultural events (open-air cinema, varieté shows), and providing member discounts with local businesses (Zurbrüggen furniture). Also funds community projects with €10,000 annually.
• EBZ (Europäisches Bildungszentrum der Wohnungs- und Immobilienwirtschaft)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partner for apprentice education in real estate management. WHS apprentices attend EBZ Berufskolleg for theoretical education alongside practical training.
• Kriminalpolizei BochumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPioneering security partnership since 2014 providing neutral safety assessments for interested members. WHS was first housing company to establish this cooperation, later followed by others. Members receive 50% reimbursement (up to €1,000) for approved security measures.
• Polizeipräsidium BochumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurrent partnership in 'Kriminalprävention/Opferschutz' (crime prevention/victim protection) with detailed safety counseling for seniors covering fraud schemes and everyday dangers.
• Stadtwerke HernecoreTechnology or IntegrationUtility provider for district heating connections beginning April 2026. Will connect 24 buildings with over 220 apartments to the Fernwärme (district heating) network through ten transfer stations.
• Herner TC, HC Westfalia Herne, Herner EVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports partnerships providing visibility at events, E-vehicle provision for athletes (Herner TC), and community engagement through joint appearances at WHS events.
• 1. Herner Karnevalsgesellschaft, Cheerleaders 'Claws' BTC Herne, Schützenverein St. Hubertus HerneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal community organizations participating in WHS events like Oktoberfest, contributing to neighborhood atmosphere and member engagement.
• Herner Nahverkehrsunternehmen 'HCR'minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMobility partnership providing mobility training for rollator users, helping seniors maintain independence and safety in daily transportation.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• LEG Immobilien SE: NRW-focused residential real estate company with over 165,000 apartments, headquartered in Düsseldorf. Comparable as a major landlord operating primarily in the same NRW market, providing direct competitive context for rent levels, tenant services, and government-subsidized housing programs.
• Vivawest GmbH: Largest residential housing company in NRW with approximately 120,000 apartments across the Ruhrgebiet. Directly comparable as a major NRW residential property operator with overlapping geographic footprint and similar tenant base, though structured as a commercial entity rather than a cooperative.
• SAGA Siedlungs-Aktiengesellschaft Hamburg: Hamburg's municipal housing company managing over 140,000 apartments. Comparable as a public-purpose residential operator with similar mission of providing affordable, long-term housing security to residents, though in a different German metropolitan market.
• TAG Immobilien AG: German residential real estate company focused on affordable housing in B-cities and northern/eastern Germany. Comparable as an operator specializing in smaller-unit, affordable rental housing with similar focus on energy-efficient modernization and tenant retention.
• Vonovia SE: Europe's largest residential real estate company with over 500,000 apartments across Germany, including significant NRW presence. Comparable as the dominant market participant setting competitive benchmarks for affordability, modernization, and tenant services in the German residential market.
• Deutsche Wohnen SE: Major German residential landlord managing over 140,000 units, now part of Vonovia. Comparable as a large-scale residential operator competing for tenants and development sites, with similar exposure to energy-efficiency retrofit obligations and tenant regulation.
• Grand City Properties S.A. German-focused residential real estate company with over 60,000 units concentrated in NRW and other German urban areas. Comparable as a residential landlord operating in similar urban markets with focus on value-add opportunities and tenant-friendly positioning.

Regional players

• GAG Immobilien AG: Municipal housing company of Cologne with over 45,000 apartments serving affordable housing needs. Comparable as a public-purpose residential operator in NRW with similar mission of providing affordable housing and managing public-subsidized units, though at significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubewhs.de/mitglieder/whs-tv
• Facebookfacebook.com/WHSeG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/whseg
• Instagraminstagram.com/whseg

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Wohnungsgenossenschaft Herne-sud Eg