Berlin Housing Cooperatives: How to Become a Member, and What to Do If One Is Closed

Housing cooperatives (Wohnungsbaugenossenschaften) are among the cheapest ways to rent in Berlin, but you can only rent from one as a member. This guide explains how membership works, why it's worth it, and what your real alternatives are if a cooperative isn't accepting new members right now.

How to become a member of a Berlin housing cooperative

The steps are similar at most cooperatives:

1. Check each cooperative's admission rules. Some admit new members freely, others only together with a flat. VORWÄRTS eG, for example, states on its FAQ page that you can currently only become a member when you rent a flat.

2. Submit a membership application. Under § 15 of the Cooperatives Act, you join by submitting an unconditional declaration of membership in text form, and the cooperative has to approve it. You receive a copy of the statutes beforehand.

3. Pay for your shares. Members buy cooperative shares (Genossenschaftsanteile), and many cooperatives also charge an entrance fee. At VORWÄRTS, a share costs €130 and several are required, depending on the flat.

4. Get on the list for a flat. Once you're a member, you apply for flats or join the cooperative's own waiting list. Our guide on joining an interest list explains how such lists work.

Our guides on what documents to prepare and whether you'd qualify go into more detail.

Why become a member?

• Lower rents. According to the BBU housing association, the average rent in Berlin cooperative flats was €6.29 per m² net cold in mid-2025, 18.4% below the official Berlin rent index. For new lettings, cooperatives charged €7.95 per m² on average, while listings on rental portals averaged €18.76.

• Your money comes back. Your shares are not a fee. When your membership ends, your share balance is generally paid out within six months, based on the cooperative's balance sheet, as set out in § 73 of the Cooperatives Act.

• You have a say. Every member has one vote at the general meeting, under § 43 of the Cooperatives Act, whatever the size of their flat.

• The selection works differently. Cooperatives choose tenants from their members, and our article on cooperatives instead of a SCHUFA check explains how that selection really works.

Why some cooperatives are closed

Not every Berlin cooperative is accepting new members. At VORWÄRTS eG, membership on its own isn't possible at the moment, only together with renting a flat. That's not an exception: according to Tagesspiegel, admission practice among Berlin's roughly 100 cooperatives is highly inconsistent — a pattern we cover in more depth in our guide to why the practice varies so much. If you get a rejection, or no response at all, you still have several real alternatives.

Alternative 1: contact other cooperatives in parallel

Since Berlin has around 100 cooperatives per Tagesspiegel, a closed list at one is no reason to give up. Systematically writing to several cooperatives raises your odds significantly compared to asking just one.

Alternative 2: smaller, less well-known cooperatives

Alongside the large, well-known cooperatives, Berlin has numerous smaller ones that get less attention and sometimes have shorter waits as a result. They show up less often in general guides, but they're just as much registered cooperatives under the Cooperatives Act.

Alternative 3: ask the membership department directly, not just online

At GWG "Berliner Bär" eG in Köpenick, for example, the first step runs through a personal appointment with the membership department, not a pure online form. Direct personal contact can give you more current information than an outdated website.

Alternative 4: search the open rental market in parallel

While you're waiting to hear back from cooperatives, your apartment search doesn't have to pause. Searching the open market in parallel can bridge the often long wait for a possible cooperative apartment, and being prepared means you're ready the moment a cooperative does respond.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I become a member of a Berlin housing cooperative?

Check the cooperative's admission rules, submit a declaration of membership, pay for the required shares and, if there is one, the entrance fee. Some cooperatives only admit new members together with a flat.

What does membership cost?

It depends on the cooperative and the flat. You pay for cooperative shares, which you get back when you leave, and often an entrance fee. At VORWÄRTS eG, for example, one share costs €130 and several are required.

What should I do if a cooperative currently isn't accepting new members?

Contact other cooperatives among Berlin's roughly 100 in parallel, since admission practice differs enormously between them.

Is it worth approaching smaller, less well-known cooperatives?

Yes. Smaller cooperatives get less attention and sometimes have shorter waits, but they're just as much registered cooperatives as the large ones.

Is a personal appointment more useful than a pure online inquiry?

At some cooperatives, yes. GWG "Berliner Bär" eG, for example, uses a personal appointment with the membership department as its first step.

Should I pause my apartment search while I wait on a cooperative?

No. Searching the open rental market in parallel sensibly bridges the often long wait.