Hey guys does anyone of you have got a Genossenschaft apartment in Zurich, being an expat with C permit and a not very low salary (ex: > 120k CHF)? Any tips or tricks?
Also, are these apartments more for people who need social help? I am asking cause I wouldnt like to steal the apartments for people more in need, as I earn a medium/high salary, so not sure how to feel about this.
Don’t worry
You will have to tell them your salary anyways and if you don’t qualify , you will not get Apartments meant for low income housing
Best would be to look into conditions for specific apartment
afaik they often want a mix of people, not only people with low salaries.
(I know people who are in Genossenschaften, in their case they’re a family with multiple kids – and I get the feeling it’s hard to find apartments with many rooms outside of those, the big apartment in the market often just have bigger rooms rather than more rooms)
It’s a honorable concern, but given that the demand for such apartments is orders of magnitude higher than supply, I would say if you actually get one, it was not because you stole it from someone thanks to your medium/high salary, but because the Genossenschaft thinks you fit in.
Btw, everyone I know got theirs through initial temporary sublet agreements which at some point turned into a full rental contract. But many are not that eager to give up their old (expensive) apartment for 6 months only in the hope that the main tenant doesnt come back from their travels. 
That’s what I hear, too, and I believe it to be true.
Just for your amusement two personal experience data points, diametrical, of course:
As mentioned initially, I agree with @Abs_max and just wanted to share my very limited personal exposure to this space.
Everywhere a scam 
I wonder if they check tax statements every year
I happen to live in a Genossenschaft and to know quite something about our Genossenschaft. I don’t know of any Genossenschaft who has subsizdized flats. I think what you mean are the subventionierte Wohnungen of Stadt Zürich.
If you live in a städtische Wohnung, I think you need to give them permission to check your income from the Steueramt every couple of years. However, Genossenschaften will afaik only check your income when you move in.
I am not sure if Mietrecht would not allow Genossenschaften to kick people out due to higher income. At least this is not common at all. The one thing our Genossenschaft can and will do ist control how many people live in a flat and when (number of rooms-1) is higher than number of people living in the flat, they will nudge you to a smaller flat and charge you extra for the time being.
I don’t understand why you tell this story? Is ist
In our Genossenschaft, there is well defined criteria. I must admit that I don’t know the exact catalogue but three of the very important ones are:
Many many of neighbors that move in fulfill all three criteria. People have all kinds of salaries but there are not a lot of high earners. It looks like permit C/nationality is not a criteria.
Discriminating against infertile people. The balls on some people
I just found it interesting.
No judgement passed, at least not intentionally.
thanks folks! Any insider tips to get one of those?
You didn’t read the thread, did you?
ABZ does, just to give a small example. E.g. in Leimbach. Worth noting that this (now closed) new construction website was the first time they shared any apartments 1) available for the general public and 2) not already scheduled for demolition since I signed up for their newsletter over 3 years ago.
My insider tip:
Yes, see above the sure-fire way of getting one!
That’s already the hard part. A few years ago I checked like 20 Genossenschaften and none of them allowed the registering of new people on their waiting list (lists were too long already).
Sometimes you could, but had to deposit money (which you get back if you don’t want anymore). But most looking for a cheaper flat cannot deposit 1000+ CHF at various places to get on the waiting list.
Hmmm what if they would charge an annual fee (like 20.-) to remain on the list (no refund). With the proceeds, they could also build new buildings. New business model anyone? IPO expected in Q3 2025, maybe something on the blockchain. Wait for Private Equity to optimise revenue by charging 5.- per month, per anticipated number of residents. Of course just joking 
You’re joking but at least the 20.- fees/year idea would be cheaper than the opportunity costs for the 1k deposit. 
Just in case some of you want to leave no stone unturned:
As a Genossenschaft you can lend up to 90-95% of the property’s value from banks and federal government (some at 0.0% interest) and depending on the rating you get much lower mortgages than the ones discussed in the Mortgages 2025 thread (e.g. SARON + 0.5-0.6% at the moment)
Be aware that a Genossenschaft who needs to buy land and build in 2025 won’t be able to offer flats at half the market price AND members will need to bing Eigenkapital in the five figures (this is the othe 5-10% of the propertie’s value)
Interesting. So when will construction of the Mustachian Genossenschaft begin?
So if you have to chip in 50,000 to live in a flat, you have ~2500.-/year opportunity costs (because likely you get 0% interest on that). Hence the actual rent would be 208.- higher each month if you calculate it through.
In my understanding you can also not profit from increased building value years later, which would be the case if you have your own flat & mortgage.
Overall you probably still save money, but to a lesser extend than on the first glance.
For a genossenschaft which was founded 50-100 years ago, it’s rather in the order of magnitude of the Mietziskaution (3 monthly rents)
Maybe in the beginning. Most Genossenschaften pay BWO Referenzzinssatz plus 0.25-0.5%
Only through lower rent. Again, Genossenschaften who have bought land 75y ago can offer very low rents as renters pay the running cost of the building and depreciation over 40/80 years