The city of Geneva is Europe’s most expensive place to live. Unaffordable rents and a shortage of dedicated accommodation make it difficult for students to find suitable accommodation, and many end up living in sub-standard housing, commuting from outside the city, or working long hours to pay the rent.
Demonstrations over Geneva’s lack of affordable housing led to the creation of La Ciguë in 1986. The student housing cooperative now manages almost 740 rooms in city centre locations. Around 60% of these are in shared flats in empty properties leased from public bodies and private owners. The remaining 40% are in eight properties developed by La Ciguë.
These buildings have very high energy-efficiency standards and include commercial spaces to enhance community life. Rooms are let exclusively to people in training, such as students, interns, and apprentices, who become members of the cooperative. Rents are typically 55% less than open market rates and residents can stay for up to five years. In 2022, the cooperative’s rental charges generated an income of CHF 3.5M ($3.92M USD). This is used to pay La Ciguë’s operating expenses. As a non-profit organisation, any surplus money is channelled into future housing developments or solidarity projects helping vulnerable people locally and internationally.
