Gws-wohnen Dortmund-sud Eg

What Gws-wohnen Dortmund-sud Eg does

gws-Wohnen Dortmund-Süd eG is a registered German housing cooperative (eingetragene Genossenschaft) founded on 2 May 1897 in Hörde and now headquartered at Hörder Bahnhofstraße 1, 44263 Dortmund. The cooperative manages a portfolio of 3,785 residential apartments across 663 buildings (as of 31 December 2025), serving approximately 5,000 members in the Dortmund-Hörde area of North Rhine-Westphalia. Beyond residential units, the portfolio includes 45 commercial spaces, 6 kindergartens, one nursing home (Pflegeheim Am Heedbrink, 80 stationary and 13 day care places), and 812 parking spaces, reflecting an integrated community-housing model rather than pure residential landlord activity.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring monthly rents from member-tenants, supplemented by pass-through operating and heating costs (Betriebs- und Heizkosten). The cooperative's wholly-owned subsidiary, gws-Service Dortmund-Süd mbH (founded 1994), extends the revenue base into third-party property management (Fremdverwaltung of approximately 500 additional apartments), energy and telecommunications supply framework agreements, and metering/operating-cost settlement services. Ancillary revenue streams include a member guest apartment near Phoenix-See (€60/night, €150 weekend, €200 week) and a €1,100 one-time membership share (Geschäftsanteil). Distribution is relationship-driven: prospective members submit an Interessentenbogen, are personally consulted by the Kundenkontakte department, and acquire lifelong tenancy rights upon approval — a sales motion aligned with the cooperative's member-welfare mandate rather than profit maximization.

The technology stack is conventional: a WordPress-based website with Borlabs cookie consent, Google Tag Manager, etracker analytics, and Google Ads. The proprietary 'meine gws-Wohnen' mobile app (iOS/Android, launched 2023) provides residents with repair reporting (with photo upload), push notifications, form downloads, guest apartment booking, and planned consumption-data access. A 2026 fiber-to-the-home rollout with Deutsche Telekom and DOKOM21 is adding broadband infrastructure to the portfolio, and a 2025 student-hire for 3D scanning suggests initial investment in building digitization. The cooperative is also actively hiring for construction and modernization project leadership, indicating continued investment in portfolio expansion and refurbishment.

Name

Gws-wohnen Dortmund-sud Eg

Legal name

gws-Wohnen Dortmund-Süd eG

Website

https://gws-wohnen.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1897

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

gws-Wohnen Dortmund-Süd eG is a 128-year-old German housing cooperative managing 3,785 apartments across 663 buildings for roughly 5,000 members in Dortmund, delivering affordable lifelong tenancy alongside integrated community services and a third-party property management subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Housing Cooperative Services

NAICS

Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwellings (531110)

SIC

Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Short-Term Rental (STR) Management for Individual Hosts (BPAJAIAB)

Keywords

• Housing cooperative services
• Residential property management
• Affordable rental housing
• Third-party property management
• Cooperative member services

Headquarters

HQ city

Dortmund

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Residential Rental Income: Core revenue from renting apartments to members. Members pay monthly rent plus operating costs (Betriebskosten) and heating costs. Rent is described as 'fair' (fair mieten) reflecting the Genossenschaft mandate to provide affordable housing.
2. Fremdverwaltung (Third-party Property Management): Full-service property management offered to third-party property owners via the 100% subsidiary gws-Service Dortmund-Süd mbH. Services include Mieteigentumsverwaltung, Betriebs- und Heizkostenabrechnung, Gebäudemanagement, and rental management. Revenue derived from management fees.
3. Energy & Telecommunication Supply Services: The subsidiary gws-Service provides energy and telecommunications services to Genossenschaft apartments, likely through framework agreements with energy providers.
4. Guest Apartment Rental: Members can rent an exclusive guest apartment near Phoenix-See (34 m², up to 2 persons). Pricing: 60€ per night, 150€ weekend package (Fri–Mon), 200€ week package (Mon–Fri). Revenue from accommodation fees.
5. Membership Shares (Geschäftsanteil): Members acquire one share (Geschäftsanteil) of 1,100.00€ upon joining. While not direct revenue in the traditional sense, share capital is retained until the member exits after a 2-year notice period following the end of the fiscal year of cancellation.
6. Messdienstleistungen (Metering Services): The subsidiary gws-Service provides metering and billing services for utilities (water, heat), including self-settlement of operating costs for Genossenschaft apartments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

gws-Wohnen Dortmund-Süd eG is a member-owned housing cooperative that rents and manages approximately 3,785 residential apartments in 663 houses across Dortmund-Hörde and surrounding districts to its roughly 5,000 members, providing lifelong tenancy rights at fair rents. Through its 100% subsidiary gws-Service Dortmund-Süd mbH, the cooperative also delivers third-party property management (Fremdverwaltung), energy and telecommunications services, metering/operating-cost billing, and guest apartment rentals.

Product overview

Gws-Wohnen Dortmund-Süd eG is a housing cooperative (Wohnungsbaugenossenschaft) founded in 1897, operating approximately 3,785 residential units across 663 buildings in Dortmund. The company offers core housing management services including apartment rentals, maintenance, and member administration. Digital services include the 'meine gws-Wohnen' mobile app for residents, digital prospect registration forms, and online repair reporting. Additional services comprise guest apartments (including nationwide partner network), third-party property management through its subsidiary gws-Service Dortmund-Süd mbH, and fiber optic infrastructure expansion. The cooperative serves around 5,000 members with supplementary offerings including child care facilities and a nursing home.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wohnungsverwaltung (Residential Rental Housing Management) Core residential rental housing service for approximately 3,785 apartments across 663 buildings in Dortmund, offered to cooperative members who acquire lifelong housing rights at fair rents by purchasing a €1,100 membership share.
• meine gws-Wohnen App Proprietary mobile app for cooperative members offering 24/7 access to news, repair complaint submission with photo upload, push notifications, consumption data, downloadable documents.
• Gästewohnungen (Guest Apartments) Guest apartment rental service for cooperative members near Phoenix-See in Dortmund (34 m², up to 2 persons), available at €60/night, €150/weekend package (Fri–Mon), and €200/week package (Mon–Fri), plus 7.5% tourism tax.
• Gästewohnungen deutschlandweit (Nationwide Guest Apartment Network) Partnership-based nationwide guest apartment booking service enabling cooperative members to book guest apartments across Germany at discounted rates via the 'Urlaub Spezial Deutschland' and 'Wohnungsbaugenossenschaften' portals.
• Fremdverwaltung (Third-Party Property Management) Full-service third-party property management for external property owners, including Mieteigentumsverwaltung, Betriebs- und Heizkostenabrechnung, Gebäudemanagement, and rental management, delivered via the wholly-owned subsidiary gws-Service Dortmund-Süd mbH across approximately 500 third-party apartments.
• gws-Service Dortmund-Süd mbH (Energy, Telecommunications & Metering Services) Wholly-owned subsidiary delivering energy supply, telecommunications services (including fiber broadband partnership rollout), Messdienstleistungen (metering for water and heat), and Betriebskostenabrechnung (operating cost billing) to cooperative apartments and third-party managed properties.
• Mitgliedschaft (Cooperative Membership) Cooperative membership granting lifelong tenancy rights, fair rents, and participation rights in the cooperative; requires purchase of one share (Geschäftsanteil) at €1,100.
• Glasfasernetz Ausbau (Fiber-to-the-Home Broadband Rollout) Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband infrastructure rollout delivered to cooperative tenants in partnership with Deutsche Telekom and DOKOM21, enabling high-speed internet connectivity in cooperative apartments.

Quantifiable outcome

• 65% of 645 apartments were destroyed or severely damaged during WWII; Genossenschaft rebuilt successfully
• +2 more outcomes

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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Pflegeheim Am Heedbrink (with care operator)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016A nursing home built by the Genossenschaft at Am Heedbrink in 2016, providing 80 stationary and 13 day care places. Demonstrates the company's role in integrated elderly care housing, though operated by an external care provider.
• Kita Hasenburg (and subsequent kindergartens)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Co-development of childcare facilities within Genossenschaft properties, starting with the Kita Hasenburg (2012). In total, five Kindertageseinrichtungen were built on Genossenschaft land as part of integrated neighborhood development.
• WIR-Projekt (Lange Hecke)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012A community living project launched in 2012 at Lange Hecke, fostering intergenerational and neighborly living within the Genossenschaft's community.
• Bethel.regionalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Initiated a housing project in 2011 at Breslaustraße for people with brain damage (Hirnschädigung), integrating specialized housing within the Genossenschaft's portfolio. A key example of social responsibility and co-development of care-integrated housing.
• Marketinginitiative der Wohnungsbaugenossenschaften Deutschland e.V.minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2006Joint marketing initiative of 400+ German housing cooperatives since 2006, promoting the 'Wohnungsbaugenossenschaft' brand and the advantages of cooperative living. Gws-Wohnen actively participates in social media campaigns.
• Deutsche TelekomcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband network expansion across the Genossenschaft's housing stock. Deutsche Telekom provides the infrastructure rollout and internet service delivery, enabling tenants to access high-speed fiber connections alongside existing cable options.
• DOKOM21coreTechnology or IntegrationRegional telecom partner (DOKOM21) for fiber broadband services in Dortmund, providing tenants with an alternative to Deutsche Telekom and expanding choice for high-speed internet access.
• gws-Service Dortmund-Süd mbHcoreOthersA 100% owned subsidiary of gws-Wohnen Dortmund-Süd eG, established 1994. Provides energy supply, telecommunications, metering services (Messdienstleistungen), operating cost billing, and Fremdverwaltung (third-party property management) to the Genossenschaft and external clients.
• Verband der Wohnungs- und Immobilienwirtschaft Rheinland Westfalen e.V. (VdW Rheinland Westfalen)coreOthersIndustry association for housing and real estate in the Rhineland-Westphalia region. Serves as the Prüfungsverband (audit association) for the Genossenschaft, conducting mandatory statutory audits. The company is also listed as a member of the Arbeitgeberverband der Deutschen Immobilienwirtschaft e.V.
• Erlebt was e. V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable association organizing children's holiday programs. Gws-Wohnen hosted a 'Kinderferienspaß' (children's holiday fun) day with Erlebt was e. V., providing community engagement activities for members' children.
• DESWOS Deutsche Entwicklungshilfe für soziales Wohnungs- und Siedlungswesen e.V.minorOthersCharitable association combating housing poverty and hardship in the Global South. Gws-Wohnen participates in the annual DESWOS Marathon 'Kilometersammeln' to raise funds (e.g., 2025 project: food security and water for smallholder farmers and school children in Namibia). 100% of donations flow to project work.
• Forschungsgesellschaft für Genossenschaftswesen Münster e.V.minorOthersResearch association focused on cooperative studies. Membership indicates commitment to research and knowledge development in the cooperative housing sector.
• Dortmunder Volksbank eGminorOthersLocal banking partner (Volksbank cooperative bank), reflecting the Genossenschaft's roots in cooperative financial structures. Listed under 'Mitgliedschaften und Beteiligungen'.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Vonovia SE: Europe's largest residential landlord with ~550,000 German apartments. Overlaps with gws-Wohnen in core residential rental and increasingly in energy/telecom services (Vonovia operates its own service subsidiary), but operates as listed for-profit rather than cooperative.
• LEG Immobilien SE: Listed NRW-focused residential landlord with ~166,000 apartments concentrated in North Rhine-Westphalia. Directly comparable by NRW geography and residential focus, though operates for-profit rather than as a cooperative.

Direct peers

• Vivawest GmbH: Large Ruhr-area residential landlord (~120,000 apartments) with strong Dortmund/NRW presence. Most directly comparable peer by geography, scale segment (regional residential operator), and customer base (long-term renters in the Ruhrgebiet).
• Berliner Bau- und Wohnungsgenossenschaft von 1892 eG: Berlin housing cooperative with similar legal structure (registered Genossenschaft), community-oriented services, and member-ownership model. Directly comparable cooperative peer despite Berlin vs. Dortmund geography.
• Bauverein Bremerhaven eG: Housing cooperative in Bremerhaven with similar registered-Genossenschaft structure, member-ownership, and community focus. Comparable peer for cooperative governance and service-offering mix, though in a structurally weaker regional market.
• Wohnungsbaugenossenschaft 'Carl Zeiss' Jena eG: Mid-sized German housing cooperative with member-owned structure, integrated property management, and community amenities. Closely comparable to gws-Wohnen in size class, cooperative model, and service offering mix.

Regional players

• GBG Mannheimer Wohnungsbaugesellschaft mbH: Municipal housing company managing ~19,000 apartments in Mannheim. Comparable as a publicly-mandated residential operator with similar social/community mission and integrated property management services.
• SAGA Unternehmensgruppe: Hamburg's municipal housing company managing ~137,000 apartments. Comparable as a mission-driven public housing operator with integrated services, though operating in a different German metro with stronger fundamentals than Dortmund.
• Nassauische Heimstätte | Wohnstadt (NHW): Hessen-based housing company managing ~60,000 apartments. Comparable as a mission-driven residential operator with public-shareholder structure and integrated services, though geographically focused on Hessen rather than NRW.

Others

• Dortmunder Volksbank eG: Local cooperative banking partner and shareholder of gws-Wohnen per disclosed 'Mitgliedschaften und Beteiligungen'. Comparable as a fellow Dortmund-anchored registered cooperative and part of the local Genossenschaft ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/reel/DQ4De46lbAH/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Gws-wohnen Dortmund-sud Eg