KAB, founded in Copenhagen in 1920 as “Københavns Almindelige Boligselskab,” is Denmark’s largest non-profit housing administrator. Created to address Copenhagen’s chronic housing shortages, KAB’s origins were rooted in civic initiatives that responded to the rapid urban influx and the pressing need for fair, accessible homes. In 2007, KAB merged with AKB, another historic housing association dating to 1913, combining over a century of experience in affordable housing provision.
Today, KAB manages just under 64,000 dwellings across more than 500 housing estates for approximately 60 non-profit housing organizations and municipalities, housing an estimated 120,000 residents in the Copenhagen metropolitan area. This represents roughly 10% of the city’s population, with a waiting list approaching 250,000 individuals, underscoring the ongoing demand for affordable rental housing.
KAB’s operations cover rental and property management, project development, tenant service, and maintenance for estates both newly built and dating back over a century. A recent example of its multifaceted approach is the “Future Sølund” project, a multi-generational development that will combine housing for seniors, young people, and special needs residents in a single complex in the city.
KAB’s new headquarters in Copenhagen, designed by Henning Larsen Architects and completed in 2021, reflects its commitment to combining administrative efficiency with a focus on community and livability. The organization is owned collectively by the housing associations it serves, reinforcing a structure where tenants’ interests are prioritized and surpluses reinvested rather than distributed as profit.