GWG Städtische Wohnungsgesellschaft München mbH was Munich’s oldest municipal housing company, founded in 1918 in response to acute post-war housing shortages. Entirely owned by the City of Munich, GWG specialized in the development and management of affordable rental housing, primarily for low- and middle-income residents—by 2021, it managed over 30,400 rental apartments and nearly 450 commercial spaces, supporting about 50,000 tenants throughout Munich.
A key driver in the city's post-war reconstruction, GWG both built substantial new housing stock and modernized existing, aging estates that dated from as early as the 1930s. For many decades, its primary challenge was to upgrade outdated postwar buildings to current energy, accessibility, and quality standards—often via ambitious refurbishment and urban redevelopment programs. For example, in the Sendling district, GWG led innovative energy-efficient refurbishments, doubling living space and significantly improving environmental performance.
Recent years saw GWG managing large-scale new developments, such as 900 apartments in Munich’s major Freiham urban extension, all under government rent subsidy schemes. Another current initiative is in the Aubinger Allee district, with new multi-generational housing and local amenities.
As of January 2024, GWG merged with the other municipal provider, GEWOFAG, to form Münchner Wohnen—a consolidation intended to streamline operations and boost the annual output of affordable homes, now collectively responsible for roughly 67,000 apartments in Munich. This strategic move reflects ongoing political pressure to address persistent housing shortages in one of Germany’s priciest markets.