Hello, I‘m Jia Rujun and I am more than happy to be able to share with you what I know about cooperative housing in Switzerland and China. I will first introduce the Swiss cooperative housing system, followed by its development in China.
Housing policies in Switzerland vary slightly at different administrative levels: the Confederation formulates guiding principles and financial support, while the cantons and municipalities have developed different housing policies through voting. It is written clearly in the Swiss Federal Constitution that it is the responsibility of the Confederation and the cantons to ensure everyone is able to find suitable and affordable housing for themselves and their families.
In large cities where the shortage of affordable housing is more critical, more efficient housing policies could be found. The City of Zurich attributes its balanced development to its efficient and concise housing policy, with three suppliers in two forms:
<aside> 💡 两个渠道三个角色：插图来自：贾如君，李寅，《不只是居住——苏黎世非营利性住房建设的百年经验》
</aside>
Up to now, Non-profit housing in Zurich takes up ¼ of the housing market, most of which are housing cooperatives. According to Zurich's latest poll, the city would increase this market share to ⅓ by the end of 2050.
Cooperatives are a well-established business ownership model. Compared with other forms of enterprise, it has two distinctive features:
Housing cooperatives are one of many cooperatives. A non-profit housing cooperative needs to clearly define in its bylaws that it is non-profit, managing and leasing its residential and office space at the cost-rent. They are known to be "privately owned but publicly functioning (privat geordnet aber öffentlich funktioniert)", with the following three features:
Its shareholders invest, build, manage and live in the cooperative.
One becomes a member of the cooperative by purchasing shares. As co-owners of all the cooperative properties, members enjoy full and equal rights on deciding all aspects of the construction and operation of their properties.
On the one hand, they act as managers of the housing cooperatives, voting equally on the issues and jointly design and decide the lifestyle they want. That is a reason why innovative units plans and living styles are more likely to be found in cooperative housing communities. If the demographic needs of the community change, or the buildings age, they could also work together to organize renewal, repairs, even rebuild or expand the co-op, transforming various existing unused land such as empty offices and abandoned industrial areas into cooperative housings. In addition, the community could vote to organize different services such as kindergartens, cafeterias, organic stores, car rentals, cinemas, etc.
On the other hand, the cooperative holds ownership of the cooperative's property as a corporate entity. Shareholders rent their premises from the co-op with a lease agreement at cost-rent. Their relatives have the right of inheritance. In other words, the tenants themselves are the landlords.
Low price, not low cost.
Housing cooperatives are generally 22% to 30% cheaper than commercial housing, some even 50%. Because people are building the co-op for themselves, the properties usually come with better quality.
Profitable, not for-profit.
Non-profit does not mean it isn’t profitable. After paying off the mortgage and various costs, about 7% of the profit is returned to the shareholders with in-kind shares instead of cash (so that the property retains its value): it can be used to create a "renewal fund" for housing maintenance, or a "solidarity fund" to help those in need in the community, or to provide non-profit interest on the share capital to combat inflation.
苏黎世 Mehr als wohnen 住区；插图来自：苏黎世政府
Since 1924, the city of Zurich has been systematically supporting housing cooperatives with five following methods: