Uproar in Hausen am Albis ZH Social foundation sells house to local councillor - under the table

In Hausen am Albis, a foundation board consisting of local councillors is selling a house to a company owned by another local councillor. This is causing a stir.

In the Zurich municipality of Hausen am Albis, the secret sale of a house by the Widmer-Frick Foundation to the real estate company of a local councillor is causing a stir.

The foundation was supposed to use its assets, consisting of three houses, to support the care of elderly people. However, the foundation board, consisting of three local councillors, sold the property to another local councillor without putting it out to tender.

Hans Binzegger, a former municipal councillor, expresses his concerns in Blick: "There have been some inconsistencies recently that I would like an answer to."

Criticism of the procedure

Specifically, the property was sold to the company of Beatrice Sommerauer Nägelin, who is responsible for "Finance and Real Estate" in the municipality and is a neighbor of the house in question. Sommerauer Nägelin did not take part in the negotiations, but her husband, who owns half of the company, conducted the talks.

This approach and the lack of public disclosure of the sale price and the circumstances of the sale have led to criticism. Binzegger, who made the case public, is calling for transparency: "I just want the public to know under what circumstances the sales were made."

Professor Georg von Schnurbein from the University of Basel criticizes the sale in "Blick" as problematic, as a property from a social foundation was sold without a public tender or counter-offers. As a foundation board, one is obliged to achieve the best possible price. Without counter-offers, it is not clear whether this is the case.

According to Blick, the Widmer-Frick Foundation operates largely in secret and rarely communicates with the public. It has neither a website nor does it publish regular reports. Christoph Rohner, president of the foundation board and municipal clerk, refuses to comment despite repeated requests. The municipal council also remains silent.

The Affoltern district council sees no need for action and declares: "There is no apparent problem with a stand-off." Hans Binzegger remains adamant: "I'm only interested in transparency! The residents have a right to know what is behind the sale."