A housing co-operative is not bricks and mortar, it's a group of people and the means they use to collectively control and manage their housing. It can buy and own property and enter into contracts.
Co-operatives are essentially housing associations governed by the tenants/members and give grass roots control over housing. They provide rented housing without landlords, or rather the tenants are collectively their own landlord. By setting up housing co-operatives we empower ourselves to take control over one of the most fundamental aspects of our lives and in the process we transfer property from private ownership to
common ownership. Registering as an Industrial and Provident Society gives a group the legal structure which allows it to operate as a co-operative. One of the main benefits of this structure is that Industrial and Provident Societies are entitled to advertise and issue loan stock to the public. Loan stock is a means of borrowing money from sympathetic individuals and organisations without giving the holder any measure of control over the co-operative.
People set up housing co-operatives for a variety of reasons. Often they have relatively meagre incomes and are unable to afford a decent secure home without joining with others to pool resources and commitment. However, there are usually other links within such groups. People who might have difficulty finding suitable housing because of prejudice surrounding their age, race, creed or gender have formed co-operatives.
There are housing co-operatives for pensioners, black people, women and refugees. Sometimes a workers' co-operative will wish to house its members and develop a largely self-contained community, providing work and a home.
Coventry Peace House is an urban co-op dedicated to peace, Fox housing co-op has a focus on living simply, with environmentally sound practices, and also rents growing land and houses members of Organics to Go, an organic veg home delivery service.
Whatever the common aim, a co-operative can be formed to cater for the particular needs and ideology of a particular group.
(text taken from Radical Routes excellent "How to Set up a Housing Co-operative" booklet, available as a download here)
Co-operatives are essentially housing associations governed by the tenants/members and give grass roots control over housing. They provide rented housing without landlords, or rather the tenants are collectively their own landlord. By setting up housing co-operatives we empower ourselves to take control over one of the most fundamental aspects of our lives and in the process we transfer property from private ownership to
common ownership. Registering as an Industrial and Provident Society gives a group the legal structure which allows it to operate as a co-operative. One of the main benefits of this structure is that Industrial and Provident Societies are entitled to advertise and issue loan stock to the public. Loan stock is a means of borrowing money from sympathetic individuals and organisations without giving the holder any measure of control over the co-operative.
People set up housing co-operatives for a variety of reasons. Often they have relatively meagre incomes and are unable to afford a decent secure home without joining with others to pool resources and commitment. However, there are usually other links within such groups. People who might have difficulty finding suitable housing because of prejudice surrounding their age, race, creed or gender have formed co-operatives.
There are housing co-operatives for pensioners, black people, women and refugees. Sometimes a workers' co-operative will wish to house its members and develop a largely self-contained community, providing work and a home.
Coventry Peace House is an urban co-op dedicated to peace, Fox housing co-op has a focus on living simply, with environmentally sound practices, and also rents growing land and houses members of Organics to Go, an organic veg home delivery service.
Whatever the common aim, a co-operative can be formed to cater for the particular needs and ideology of a particular group.
(text taken from Radical Routes excellent "How to Set up a Housing Co-operative" booklet, available as a download here)
