Guide · Cooperatives

Cooperative flat:
how to get one

Low rent, a lifelong right to live there, no owner's-need eviction – but the way in rarely goes through a listing. Here you'll find how shares and waiting lists work and which strategy really gives you a chance.

Why everyone wants a cooperative flat

Around 80 housing cooperatives manage around 190.000 flats in Berlin (BBU, 2025). Living there is different: the rent is usually well below market level and rises moderately, and the contract is a lifelong right of use – there is no owner's-need eviction, because the cooperative belongs to its members. That is exactly why hardly anyone moves out voluntarily, and exactly why getting in is the hardest part.

How getting in works: shares instead of a deposit

When you join, you buy cooperative shares – depending on the cooperative, from a few hundred to several thousand euros; the exact amount is in the statutes or the listing. This is not a lost fee: when you leave, you get the shares back, and many cooperatives even pay an annual dividend. Still, budget for the money – it is usually due before you move in.

The uncomfortable truth: listings are the exception

Only a minority of Berlin cooperatives publish available flats online at all – WohnAlert monitors exactly these listing pages minute by minute. Most of them instead allocate their flats internally to members via waiting lists. This leads to the most important rule of the cooperative search:

Become a member first, then wait – not the other way round. If you are already a member when a flat becomes available, you are on the list. If you only want to join then, you're too late. Many cooperatives only open membership at certain times – you need to catch that window.

That's exactly why WohnAlert checks the membership pages of Berlin's cooperatives every six hours: the alert tab of the app shows where membership is currently open – and notifies you by push when one opens again.

The strategy that works

  1. Become a member of 2–3 cooperatives whose housing is in the areas you want – the alert tab of the app shows where the door is currently open. The shares for several memberships add up; set priorities.
  2. Keep your place on the waiting list: some cooperatives want you to confirm your interest regularly or keep a form up to date. Checking in once a year never hurts.
  3. Chase the public listings at the same time: the cooperatives that do advertise often allocate in order of receipt – speed is what counts here, and that's what the WohnAlert alert is for. Some listings are even explicitly open to non-members.
  4. Don't focus only on cooperatives: the six state-owned companies (HOWOGE, degewo, Gewobag, GESOBAU, STADT UND LAND, WBM) have similar rents but considerably more listings – how applying there works is explained in the guide How to apply.

Cooperative flats in other cities

The same guide with the local cooperatives is available for Potsdam, Hamburg, Leipzig, Dresden, Köln, Frankfurt, Bremen, Hannover, München, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, Nürnberg, Essen, Dortmund, Magdeburg, Halle (Saale), Chemnitz, Erfurt, Rostock, Neubrandenburg, Niedersachsen, Sachsen, Thüringen, Brandenburg, Bayern, Bremerhaven, Hessen, Graz, Wien, Burgenland, Niederösterreich, Steiermark, Oberösterreich, Salzburg, Tirol, Kärnten.

FAQ

How much do cooperative shares cost?
Depending on the cooperative, from a few hundred to several thousand euros; the exact amount is in the statutes or the listing. When you leave, you get the shares back, often with an annual dividend.
Can a cooperative end my tenancy because it needs the flat for itself (Eigenbedarf)?
No. The cooperative belongs to its members, so there is no owner who could claim the flat for personal use. The permanent right of residence is one of the biggest advantages of the model.
How long do you wait for a cooperative flat?
Honest answer: often years, depending on the cooperative and the size of the flat. That's why it pays to join early, keep an eye on the few public listings – and be patient.
Do I have to be a member to apply for a listing?
Usually you become a member and buy the shares at the latest when you sign the contract. Some listings are explicitly open to non-members too – WohnAlert shows how to apply for every flat.
Do I need a WBS for cooperative flats?
For some, yes: cooperatives also have subsidised flats. The listing then says “WBS required”. How to get the certificate is explained in the guide “Applying for a WBS”.

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This guide has been carefully researched, but it is not legal advice. Income limits, fees and procedures change – the information from the authorities and landlords is binding.

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