Frequently Asked Questions

1. What mix of apartments will there be for Wohnen+ Basel at Westfeld?

   2, 2.5, 3 and 3.5 Zimmer.  There is a minimum occupant threshold of one person per bedroom.

2. Why is there a minimum occupant threshold?
   This is a requirement of wohnen&mehr. The driver is sustainable living.
3. What standard amenities will be provided within the apartments?
   Full kitchen, bathroom, living room, bedroom(s). Most apartments will have a private winter-garden. The build will be to a middle standard.
4. Will there be the option of a bathtub?
   Our apartments will be equipped with showers, as all apartments must be barrier-free and eco-friendly, and walk-in bathtubs are not only much more expensive but also use more water, however, we will have a bathtub in the Common Room, which members are free to use.
5. Can we have a public bathroom on each floor?
   In the interests of keeping costs down, we are planning for a single public bathroom in the common room. In addition, there will be public toilets on the ground floor of our building.
6. Will the heritage designation for the old Felix-Platter Hospital impact the apartments?
   The heritage designation is primarily as regards the exterior. The interior design will be extensively modified.
7. What is the average rental price for a W+B apartment?
   Please contact us directly for layouts and pricing.
8. What is included in the Nebenkosten?
   The normal charges, i.e. heat, hot water, maintenance of building and grounds, administrative costs, taxes, fees, etc.. In addition, Wohnen+ Basel members will share the cost of the common room and other common expenses.
9. When can a Wohnen+ Basel apartment be reserved?
   Reservation opened on 03 June, and 14 of our 23 apartments are already reserved.
10. When will the first apartments be ready for occupancy?
    Currently planned for the second half of 2022.

More about Wohnen+ Basel:

1. When was Wohnen+ Basel formed?
   We started work on this project in January 2017, and became a Verein in 2019.
2. Must members of Wohnen+ Basel be Swiss citizens?
   We welcome both Swiss citizens and non-Swiss as members.
3. What if I leave, do I get my money back?
   Yes
4. Do I have to share meals with other residents?
   Definitely not required! Members choose their own level of engagement.
5. What are the bylaws for Wohnen+ Basel?
   We are developing the bylaws with Wohnen&mehr and our membership. Our bylaws will be available before we move in.
6. What are my rights as a member of the Wohnen+ Basel community?
   The right to rent an apartment, use the W+B common space, participate in W+B activities, use w&m common space, and decisions regarding W+B (one vote per member).
7. Are there other co-housing projects in Basel?
   We are not aware of any other co-housing projects in Basel for the International community.

More about Westfeld

1. Do I have to be a member of wohnen&mehr to live in Westfeld?
   Yes, however, membership in Wohnen+ Basel will automatically confer membership in wohnen&mehr as part of our Verein.
2. Are pets allowed?
   Indoor pets (for example hamsters, budgies) are definitely allowed. w&m has not yet made a decision on cats and dogs. This will be covered in the w&m house rules, due for completion towards the end of 2019.
3. How eco-friendly are the apartments?
   Very eco-friendly! The site will be built to low-energy-consumption standards, with geothermal heating, photocells on the roof, Mobility Cars on-site, Tram stop “Im Westfeld”, etc..
4. The location is very near the airport and on a busy road, what is the noise level?
   This quite subjective. We’ve visited and did not find the noise intrusive, but we recommend that if this is a concern you visit the site and judge for yourself.
5. Is there an emergency entrance to the new hospital? What are the rules for sirens? How close to the entrance will sirens be allowed?
   The hospital will not have an emergency entrance and therefore sirens will not be an issue.
6. What shops and businesses will be located at Westfeld?
   wohnen&mehr, the developer of the Westfeld site, is already well advanced with plans to rent commercial space within the refurbished Felix Platter Areal. These include the following businesses and other facilities:
    - Fitness Club (700 m2)
    - Small supermarket
    - Food hall
    - Neighborhood meeting point
    - Rentable meeting rooms
    - Rentable guest rooms
    - Kindergarten
    - Day care centre
    - Restaurants/café
    - Bicycle parking
    - Various small shops
7. Do you know which renters have committed to the residential space? Do you have some idea of the eventual mix?
   In addition to Wohnen+ Basel, other tenants so far include the LeNa housing cooperative, which will have its own building with approximately 70 apartments, and the Bürgerspital Basel with 17 assisted living apartments.  Overall, there will be some 500 individual apartments and the demographic mix will be similar to that of Basel-Stadt.
8. Can I have a car?
   Yes. In addition, a limited number of parking spaces will be available to rent.
9. People are concerned about having enough space for visitors during peak periods, such as Christmas. Is it possible to reserve one or more Joker rooms for Wohnen+ Basel? Is there a strategy for managing peak periods?
   Joker rooms will be available for medium to long term rentals. In addition to Joker rooms, w&m has a number of guest rooms (2 family and 6 single) available for short term rentals and these can be booked in advance.
10. Will it be possible to own the apartment?
    No. All apartments will be offered on a rental basis only.
11. How will you ensure that residents of Westfeld have the correct residency permit for Switzerland and if so, what kind? All tenants have to be legal residents of Basel-Stadt.  Tenancy requirements will be managed by w&m.
12. Any rules on notice period for eviction?
    All matters relating to eviction will be covered in the w&m House Rules, due to be published during 2019.
13. Will sub-leasing be allowed?
    Sub-leasing will be allowed. The limitations will be described in detail in the in the w&m House Rules, due to be published during 2019.
14. Will 3 elevators be sufficient for 130 apartments?
    Yes, 3 should be more than enough. Standard calculation is one elevator for every 60-90 units.
15. Will the number of washing machines be sufficient?
    There will be enough washing machines to enable one complete wash day per week (Mon-Sat) for each apartment.
16. What cost controls are in place to avoid the final rent and deposit price to suddenly rise and when could this happen?Rents and deposits will be based on the planned cost to build, operate and maintain the site. These costs will be set following a standard competitive bidding process and a controlled process for managing changes. We will be informed of any significant changes. Baring this, any final changes will be minor.
17. Why are rents more favorable for cooperatives than for other providers?
    The purpose of a non-profit building cooperative is, among other things, to create affordable housing. In contrast to traditional housing providers, cooperatives do not return profits to private investors. Any surpluses flow into the cooperative, where they remain as reserves for renovations and refurbishments, the disbursement for which will be decided by cooperative members. Rent is calculated so that "only" the costs incurred are covered. The latest data from the Federal Office for Housing (BWO) show that in cities the rental income for conventional rental apartments is on average 24% higher than for co-operative housing.
    General Comment on Rent
    As construction costs will not differ for cooperatives as compared to other housing providers, the rent for cooperatives in newly buildings is only slightly lower than that of conventional landlords to start - such as will be the case in Westfeld. Due to the lack of pressure on returns and the abandonment of speculative transactions, the rental income of cooperatives is expected to develop significantly lower than the market rent over the years and decades.