Genossenschaftswohnung Berlin: How to Join a Cooperative and Find an Apartment

Berlin has a long tradition of cooperative housing. But how easily you can actually become a member depends heavily on which of the city's many cooperatives you approach.

How many housing cooperatives are there in Berlin?

According to a report by Tagesspiegel, Berlin has around 100 housing cooperatives, or Wohnungsgenossenschaften. Nationwide, the GdW federal association counts roughly 2,000 cooperatives with about 2.2 million apartments.

Admission practice varies enormously

This is where the real challenge in Berlin lies. As Tagesspiegel points out, a single waiting list tells you very little, because some cooperatives regularly take on new members while others practically never do. One example: the Berliner Baugenossenschaft (bbg) introduced a digital application form specifically to reach new applicants. The Wohnungsbaugenossenschaft VORWÄRTS eG, by contrast, states openly on its own site that it currently isn't accepting new members, because it already has internal waiting lists running for many of its buildings. For a closer look at exactly how uneven this practice is across the city, see our guide on why Berlin's cooperatives behave so differently.

What membership actually costs in Berlin

At VORWÄRTS eG, one share (Geschäftsanteil) costs 130 euros, with the number of shares required tied to apartment size: six shares for units under 40 square metres, up to eleven shares for units over 90 square metres, plus a one-time admission fee of 75 euros. Other Berlin cooperatives set their own amounts; according to Verivox, the nationwide range typically runs between 500 and 3,000 euros per share. For a full breakdown of what that money actually buys you, and the real financial risks behind it, see our guide to cooperative shares and what they're really worth.

How the process works in practice

At GWG "Berliner Bär" eG in Köpenick, interested applicants first look into the admission conditions, then book an appointment with the membership department, and — because demand is high — usually land on the cooperative's internal waiting list first. Only one resident per household needs to be formally registered as a member. That five-step pattern (contact, documents, application, admission, waiting list) is the norm across most Berlin cooperatives; our step-by-step application guide walks through it in detail.

How to proceed

• Contact several Berlin cooperatives in parallel rather than relying on just one

• Ask directly about current admission status, since it changes constantly

• Check each cooperative's statutes (Satzung) for the level of shares required and notice periods — see our guide on whether you actually have a right to a cooperative apartment

• Expect to land on the internal waiting list after admission, since an apartment right away is rare

If you'd rather search the open rental market in parallel, you can browse current listings through Waitly's apartment search.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many housing cooperatives are there in Berlin?

According to Tagesspiegel, around 100.

Are all Berlin cooperatives currently accepting new members?

No. Some, like the Berliner Baugenossenschaft, actively recruit new members. Others, like VORWÄRTS eG, aren't accepting new members right now.

What does membership cost at a Berlin cooperative?

It varies. At VORWÄRTS eG, one share costs 130 euros, with the number required scaled to apartment size, plus a 75-euro admission fee.

Do I get an apartment immediately after joining?

Usually not. Because demand is high, new members typically land on an internal waiting list first.

Does every resident of a cooperative apartment need to be a member?

No. At GWG "Berliner Bär" eG, for example, only one resident per household needs to be registered as a member.